Communication Sine Qua Non of Organizational Leadership Theory and Practice

• Published in: International journal of business communication (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 12 - 30
• Main Authors: Ruben, Brent D., Gigliotti, Ralph A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-01-2017
• Subjects: business communication; communication theory; communication; social influence; leadership
• ISSN: 2329-4884; 2329-4892
• DOI: 10.1177/2329488416675447

Much has been written about the nature of leadership communication; however, the linkage often is limited to a view of communication as a strategic mechanism—or technique—to be employed by leaders in efforts to achieve specific purposes. This limited conceptualization of leadership communication does not fully capture the pervasive role of communication, and it fails to provide a nuanced view of the role communication plays in organizational dynamics, and in business settings, in particular. This article begins with an overview of various dichotomies raised in the leadership literature that have tended to impede rather than advance our understanding. We then discuss the evolution of thinking about communication and conclude with a discussion of several principles that can enhance contemporary organizational and business communication theory and practice.