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Abstract
Purpose: This study analyzed subordinates' perceptions of supervisors' computermediated communication to determine whether supervisors who engaged in text messaging with subordinates, communicated with subordinates via social media, and used emoticons, would be perceived as more immediate than those who did not communication through these means. Research Method: A quantitative research design was used. An online survey was disseminated via snowball sampling. The questionnaire assessed supervisors' computer-mediated communication practices and subordinates' perceptions of supervisor immediacy. Results: Consistent with expectations, supervisors who communicated via text messaging and social media as well as those who used emoticons were perceived to be more immediate than those who did not. This indicates that skillful use of these technologies may enhance computer-mediated immediacy behaviors in the business world.
In the constantly evolving communication landscape, technology continues to play a prominent role in business communication. For many employees, the amount of computer-mediated communication (CMC) exceeds the amount of face-to-face (F2F) communication. CMC is defined as any form of communication that takes place through a technological tool, including computers and cellular phones (Christen, 2013). It is imperative that business professionals learn to adapt effective F2F communicative practices, such as those immediate behaviors relied upon to develop perceived immediacy, to the CMC channel.
Communication techniques that work well through F2F communication do not transition seamlessly into the computer-mediated environment (Kelly & Fall, 2011; King, 2007). During F2F communication, supervisors traditionally have been able to rely on immediate behaviors, a set of nonverbal behaviors that instill motivation, increase enjoyment of work, and increase perceived closeness with employees (Hinkle, 2001; Richmond & McCroskey, 2000; Teven, 2007). Yet, the CMC channel does not transmit nonverbal behaviors. Therefore, computermediated immediacy cues must be identified for the workplace, and aspiring professionals should be trained to use such cues before entering the workforce so that skillful, effective workplace communication can be facilitated. This manuscript considers the role of CMC in developing immediacy. Specifically, the roles of texting, social media connection, and the use of emoticons are explored.
Immediate Behaviors vs. Perceived Immediacy
In the 1960's, clinical psychiatrist Albert Mehrabian noted that some psychiatrists were habitually successful at getting patients to disclose while others consistently struggled to elicit disclosure (Mehrabian, 1966). Upon observing two sets of psychiatrists interacting with...