Introduction
There is a strong and enduring relationship between leadership and communication. While these are two distinct fields of academic study, there is significant overlap between and among the two disciplines that call us to explore how they work together and how they inform and shape practices and behaviors that involve communication and leadership experiences. Scholars suggest that leadership should be grounded in an ethic of care and that communication practices and behaviors shape the praxis of leadership (Fritz, 2012). Praxis, in this way, refers to theory informed action. Therefore, coupling communication and leadership together is essential to be a successful leader. Coupling these terms and experiences together is two-fold. First, to say Communicative Leadership, one refers to leadership as a communicative function (Fritz, 2012). In fact, it would be difficult to lead without communication. Even without verbal communication, we have seen clear examples of leading through nonverbal communication, such as taking a knee during the national anthem or using illustrators or emblems in military or paramilitary operations. Second, to say “Leadership Communication” one refers to communication as leadership itself. It is the one who communicates, verbally or nonverbally, who has the potential to impact others and outcomes. Either way, there is an undeniable and inescapable relationship that we have between communication and leadership. This book explores this relationship and provides insight into using skills from both parts of the couplet to exemplify how leadership depends upon communication and how communication provides optimum leadership development and experience.
The intended audience for this open education resource is for students studying basic leadership and communication principles. Specifically at Plymouth State University, this is written for CM 2915, Communication and Leadership, which is a hybrid course covering basic principles of human communication and basic principles of leadership. However, this open education resource can also be used in other courses and other disciplines, such as in leadership studies or in certain business and professional communication courses. It is rare that leadership or business courses go into detail about the principles and processes of communication, often that content requires the taking of additional courses specific to human communication. This reader integrates content from both of these realms of research, human communication and leadership studies. I use this open education resources intentionally to explicitly connect basic principles of communication and leadership practices. In CM 2915, we use an open education resource on interpersonal communication and this reader. If you are external to Plymouth State University, feel free to use this open education resource in any way that makes sense to you and your particular course or circumstance.
Conventions in this OER include the same structures in each chapter such as: learning outcomes, thought-provoking questions, and chapter outlines.
Here is a summary for each subsequent chapter:
Chapter 1 – Leadership (and) Communication, this chapter defines leadership, communication, and offers a summary of basic principles of human communication, its models, processes, and functions.
Chapter 2 – Speaking of Leadership, this chapter introduces leadership approaches and styles.
Chapter 3 – Leadership Ethics, this chapter explores leadership ethics through exploring current literature and public trade applications.
Chapter 4 – Communication Ethics, this chapter explores communication ethics through active communication ethics scholars and providing the background of philosophical ethics through the ages
Chapter 5 – Leadership Communication Skills, this chapter explores effective communication in leadership by providing resources around leadership communication skills
Chapter 6 – Working in Small Groups and Teams, this chapter explores how to build teams and employ effective communication practices in teams
Chapter 7 – Leadership, Conflict, and Communication, this chapter explores effective leadership communication strategies in the context of conflict
Chapter 8 – Leadership Communication Resources, this chapter offers a database of additional resources
Finally, this is not a traditional book on leadership studies, styles, approaches, theories, or experiences. The intention for this book is to bring together communication and leadership in a way that integrates and interweaves the disciplines together in a unity of praxis for the student who wants to know how to lead through a communication lens. I have learned that leadership is all about effective, purposeful, transparent, authentic/genuine, and ethical communication. While a leader must be able to communicate well, leading is not really about the self. Leading is really about the other or others. This is why recognizing that leading is serving others, we begin from the other and not the self. Keeping this in mind, developing effective communication skills within a leadership mindset provides the optimum opportunity to lead “care-fully” (fully in a mindset of care toward the other) and successfully.