Supervisor Impression Management: Message Content and Channel Effects on Impressions |
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| Authors: | Catherine Y Kingsley Westerman |
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| Institution: | Michigan State University |
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| Abstract: | The current study focuses on the delivery of negative feedback and how supervisors can accomplish that delivery while maintaining their own image and their employees' face. We look at delivery of feedback with and without face-saving messages through two different channels: face-to-face (FtF) and email. Results indicate that the inclusion of face-saving messages had relatively consistent positive effects on a variety of employees' impressions of supervisors. Channel was found to interact with message content to impact perceived face threat of a message and the perception of the supervisor's appropriateness. These findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical applications, as are limitations and directions for future research. |
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| Keywords: | Dual Capacity Model Face-Saving Impression Management Negative Feedback Social Information Processing Theory |
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