To what extent does transformational leadership communication style influence employee self-perception of flourishing?

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the leaders' communication style on employees flourishing and self-perception of flourishing. The defined variables for the research analysis comprise leadership and communication, the evolution of flourishing, and organizational commitment as a powerful organizational outcome. Communication is the main conductor of human life, so if effectively implemented, leadership through effective and competent communication can benefit both the employee and the organization. A leader’s communication that motivates, creates a culture of shared value, and is seen as a resource for help, can foster employees’ growth, leading to a flourishing workforce. Flourishing is a process toward complete well-being and is seen as a continuous process rather than a goal to be accomplished. It’s measured through emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. Several have proposed defined components to measure flourishing, and even though there isn’t a consensus, dimensions such as positive emotions, close relationships, motivation, purpose, and sense of belonging, are common components in flourishing measurement frameworks. An employee who is flourishing is one who feels good and positive, is happy with his work and personal life, and most importantly, with him/herself. Hence, this dissertation argues that flourishing employees have a higher sense of commitment towards the organization, as it’s where they feel confident, rewarded, and have a sense of career growth. The study design aims to understand the extent of a transformational communication leadership approach in employee's self-perception of flourishing, by resorting to a crosssectional design, with an inquiry per questionnaire strategy and a convenience snowball sampling that gathered 168 valid responses. The study also aims at understanding the employee’s perception of leaders’ communication competence, linking it to transformational communication leadership and employee self-perceptions of flourishing. Lastly, due to the organizational context of the analysis, the study assesses the linkage between employee self-perception of flourishing under transformational communication leadership and levels of employee commitment.

Date of Award	11 Mar 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Patrícia Tavares (Supervisor)