Employee Perceptions of Supervisor Communication Competence and Associations with Supervisor Credibility

ABSTRACT

Supervisor communication competence was used to predict employee perceptions of supervisor credibility. In the study participants working in various industries completed measures of communication competence and credibility about their direct supervisor. Effective and appropriate communication were positively related to perceptions of credibility (competence, goodwill, and trustworthiness). Regression analyses indicated an interaction effect between effective and appropriate communication for each of the three credibility outcomes, where high amounts of effective and appropriate communication produced the highest credibility outcomes. Effective communication was the best predictor of competence, whereas appropriate communication was the best predictor of goodwill and trustworthiness.

KEYWORDS:

• Workplace communication
• supervisor-employee relationship
• perceived credibility

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alan C. Mikkelson

Alan C. Mikkelson (PhD, Arizona State University, 2006) is a professor of speech communication at Whitworth University. His research examines interpersonal communication in the workplace and decision-making in personal relationships.

David Sloan

David Sloan (PhD, Gonzaga University, 2013) is an associate professor of business at Whitworth University. His research interests include business psychology, organizational behavior, and marketing.

Cris J. Tietsort

Cris J. Tiesort (PhD, Arizona State University, 2021) is an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Denver. His research explores various ways we can support thriving workplace relationships, including a focus on leadership communication, compassion, and social support, as well as transformative approaches to communication skill development.