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When do high-context communicators speak up? Exploring contextual communication orientation and employee voice
Anna-Katherine Ward1, Elizabeth C Ravlin2, Brian S Klaas2
1Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech.
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|August 10, 2016
Summary
High-context communication styles reduce workplace voice, especially promotive voice. However, this effect is less pronounced for prohibitive voice and can be mitigated by strong leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Behavior
- Communication Studies
- Social Psychology
Background:
- High-context communication is linked to reduced employee voice.
- Understanding boundary conditions is crucial for high-/low-context theory.
- Distinguishing between types of voice (prohibitive and promotive) is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore boundary conditions for the relationship between contextual communication orientation and employee voice.
- To investigate how different types of voice (prohibitive vs. promotive) are affected.
- To examine the moderating role of leader-member exchange (LMX) on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between contextual communication orientation and voice.
- Participants' communication orientation and voice behaviors were assessed.
- Leader-member exchange (LMX) was measured as a potential moderator.
Main Results:
- The negative association between high-context communication orientation and voice was weaker for prohibitive voice compared to promotive voice.
- Leader-member exchange (LMX) moderated the relationship between contextual communication orientation and promotive voice, weakening the negative effect at high LMX.
- The moderating effect of LMX was not significant for prohibitive voice.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between communication orientation and voice is nuanced and depends on the type of voice.
- Leader-member exchange can buffer the negative impact of high-context communication on promotive voice.
- Future research should consider the interplay of communication styles, voice types, and relational factors.
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