Immediacy as an Influence on Supervisor-Subordinate Communication

Abstract

This study explores the role of perceived immediacy in workplace communication. The study tested a model in which perceived immediacy mediated the relationships between supervisor immediate behaviors and subordinate job satisfaction, motivation, empowerment, and burnout. Statistically significant relationships were yielded among all variables, with negative relationships associated with burnout and positive relationships associated with all other variable combinations. The model as proposed failed, but a part of the model fit very well. The data are consistent with a simple causal string from supervisor immediate behaviors → perceived immediacy → subordinate burnout. Implications are discussed within.