Linking leadership styles to communication competency and work engagement: evidence from the hotel industry

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the mediation effects of leaders' communication competency in the link between leadership styles (i.e. servant and transactional leadership) and employees' work engagement. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional survey data from 392 employees in 33 hotels in Bangladesh were collected. To analyze the data, structural equation modeling was adopted, and partial least squares (PLS) analysis was used. Findings: Results of PLS analysis revealed that servant leaders and leaders' communication competency positively influence employees' work engagement. In boosting employees' work engagement, communication competency is an important tool for servant leadership but not for transactional leadership. Practical implications: Hoteliers and managers may want to adopt a servant leadership style and develop effective leadership communication skills to increase employees' engagement at work. Originality/value: This study introduces communication competency as a mediating mechanism between leadership styles and work engagement in the hospitality industry.