Back to Search Start Over

The integrated role of adaptive leadership, sense of empathy and communication transparency: trust building in corporate communication during the pandemic.

Authors :
Meng, Juan
Pan, Po-Lin
Cacciatore, Michael A.
Sanchez, Karen Robayo
Source :
Corporate Communications: An International Journal; 2024, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p503-515, 13p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a significant impact on several aspects of public relations practice. By adopting the theoretical framework of adaptive leadership, this research is designed to explore how an organization's top leadership can support related adaptive action in strategic communication. Particularly, we hope to explore whether the application of adaptive leadership could facilitate a higher level of communication transparency as well as deliver a sense of caring and empathy in COVID-19 communication. Design/methodology/approach: An international online survey was designed and conducted for this study. The first sample consists of 776 full-time communication professionals in the United States of America with 435 women (56.1%) and 341 men (43.9%). The second sample consists of 268 full-time communication professionals in Canada, with 110 women (41.0%) and 158 men (59.0%). The two samples were merged into the final sample of 1,044 for the data analysis. Findings: Results confirmed that the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic increased communication professionals' challenges in building trust. It also drives adaptive changes in their coping actions in strategic communication. More importantly, the top leadership within the organization played a key role in this adaptive leadership environment by demonstrating commitment to transparency in COVID-19 communication and delivering a sense of empathy during the pandemic. Originality/value: This study contributes to our understanding of strategic communication in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 global pandemic, by focusing on the adaptive nature of communication leadership. More importantly, our study confirms the important roles of two leadership attributes (i.e. the sense of empathy and the commitment to communication transparency) in supporting adaptive leadership, which eventually influences trust building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13563289
Volume :
29
Issue :
4
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Corporate Communications: An International Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
177779518
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-09-2023-0125