2010 Ketchum Excellence in PR Research Award Winner

Linjuan Rita Men

University of Miami

The current study examines the impact of organizational leadership on public relations effectiveness from an internal perspective. Specifically, it builds links between leadership style, employee empowerment, and employees’ perception of organizational reputation. The results showed that transformational leadership positively influences employees’ perception of organizational reputation, not only directly but also indirectly, through empowering employees. Transactional leadership represented by contingent reward behavior has a significant negative direct effect on employees’ perception of organizational reputation. Transformational leaders are more likely to delegate power to employees and involve them in decision making than transactional leaders. Employees who feel more empowered in terms of competence and control tend to have a more favorable evaluation of organizational reputation. Significant theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.