Although communication is commonly recognized as an indispensable element of leadership, less is known about how leadership communication interacts with workplace culture and recognition to affect employee outcomes such as job engagement and well-being. 

Justin F. Willett, program director at Novak Leadership Institute, recently led a study that shows leadership communication is positively associated with respectful workplace culture and employee recognition. And those two things, culture and recognition, are positively associated with employee engagement and well-being at work.

The findings indicate that leaders should use communication to create a respectful workplace culture and to recognize employees for their achievements. If they do those two things well, then employees are more likely to experience high job engagement and a sense of well-being at work.