The Mediating Role of Communication Satisfaction between Leader's Communication and Turnover Intention

Abstract

Purpose: This study is the first to examine the effect of leadership communication on employee turnover intention in microenterprises, as well as the mediating role of communication satisfaction in the relationship between leader's communication and turnover intention.

Methods: This study employed a 2 stages cross-sectional design to collect 436 valid responses by using simple random sampling technic from workers at microenterprises in Sichuan Province, China. The data was analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0 for structural equation modelling and SPSS 20.0 for descriptive statistics.

Results: The results showed that there were significant negative correlations between leadership communication competence, leadership communication style, leadership communication frequency and employee turnover intention; there was a mediating effect of communication satisfaction between leadership communication competence, leadership communication style, leadership communication frequency and employee turnover intention, and it was partially mediated.

Practical implication: This finding suggests that in microenterprises, organizations must recognize the importance of leadership communication on employee turnover intention. Managers in microenterprises need to build good leadership-membership relationships with their employees through appropriate, frequent, and effective communication. Focusing on effective leadership communication, rather than solely on monetary compensation, offers a strategic way to manage operating costs.

Originality/value: This study confirms leader-member exchange theory and extends the applicability of lmx theory, and also highlights communication satisfaction as a key factor in relationship quality. It points out how employees' subjective experience of communication quality translates into behavioural responses. This study provides a deeper understanding of LMX theory in explaining employee attitudes and behaviours