“Speaking through silence” Exploring how inclusive leadership reduces silence and encourages voice
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2025-07-14
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en
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This study examines the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee voice, focusing on the internal mechanisms and contextual conditions that shape this relationship. While inclusive leadership is frequently associated with being open in communication, less is known about how and when it effectively encourages employees to speak up. Grounded in social exchange theory, this study examines whether relational silence, choosing not to speak up in order to keep good relationships at work, mediates the relationship between inclusive leadership and voice. Additionally, it explores whether this mechanism is influenced by the presence of a competitive climate. Data are collected through a cross-sectional survey (N = 204) and analysed using hierarchical regression and Hayes’ PROCESS macro models 4 and 7. The results show that inclusive leadership positively predicts employee voice and that this effect is partially mediated by reduced relational silence. Moreover, this indirect effect becomes more powerful in a higher competitive work environment. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the conditions under which inclusive leadership is most effective and highlight the value of addressing relational dynamics in promoting employee voice.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen