Communication Styles and Qualities of High and Low Performing Transformational Leaders – Subordinates’ Perspective
Communication Styles and Qualities of High and Low Performing Transformational Leaders – Subordinates’ Perspective

Author(s): Isaac Wanasika, Minna Logemann, Tiina Brandt
Subject(s): Theory of Communication, Organizational Psychology, Behaviorism
Published by: Scientia Moralitas Research Institute
Keywords: transformational leadership; communication style; strengths; and weaknesses of leaders;
Summary/Abstract: This study explored 98 Finnish leaders’ strengths and weaknesses as described by their followers. The leaders were appraised by their transformational leadership and communication styles by their followers. The results were divided into two groups: leaders who obtained good evaluations of their leadership style and those with lower results. The subordinates’ verbal comments were grouped based on themes about the strengths and weaknesses of both groups, revealing interesting differences between the two groups. Those leaders with high leadership ratings are especially good in Enabling behavior and Emphatic communication style. According to verbal comments of the subordinates, the strengths of high leadership ratings are more strongly emphasized in higher-level leadership traits such as courage, interpersonal skills, a positive attitude, and motivation. On the other hand, the strengths of low leadership ratings focus more on fundamental leadership skills like organization, planning, fairness, and stress management.

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