Temporal effects of leadership style on state communication anxiety in small task‐oriented groups

Abstract

Little research has been directed toward the relationship between leadership style and communication apprehension. This study focused on the relationship between leadership style in task‐oriented small groups and state communication anxiety. Two research questions were posed. First, does state communication anxiety vary as a function of leadership style in task‐oriented small groups? Second, does this relationship vary over time? Results of the study indicated that leadership style does affect levels of state anxiety in task‐oriented small groups. In addition, levels of state anxiety were generally found to decrease over time. The relationship between leadership style and state anxiety did not appear to vary as a function of time.