Communication: Empirically Testing Behavioral Integrity and Credibility as Antecedents for the Effective Implementation of Motivating Language

Motivating language theory (Sullivan, 1988) is a leadership communication theory focused on the strategic use of leader oral language. Walk and talk alignment is a main pillar of motivating language theory. As such, within the field of educational leadership, we hypothesize that behavioral integrity and credibility are required in order for motivating language to occur. In this study, a survey was administered to teachers, from 2011 to 2014, at a Title I elementary school to gauge the motivating language use of the principal. We empirically tested the ability of behavioral integrity (Simons, 1999, 2008) and credibility (McCroskey & Teven, 1999) to predict the principal's motivating language use. There were statistically significant correlations between behavioral integrity and motivating language, credibility and motivating language, and between behavioral integrity and credibility. In each year, behavioral integrity and credibility contributed significantly to the predication of the principal's motivating language use. Behavioral integrity and credibility are integral to a leader's use of motivating language. We discuss the results and implications for employees and organizations, along with ideas for future research.