Article: Leader silence: definition, measurement and relationships to emotional exhaustion Journal: European Journal of International Management (EJIM) 2026 Vol.30 No.1 pp.58 - 79 Abstract: This research aims to explore the dimensions, measurements and impacts of leader silence. Specifically, this study defines leader silence and differentiates it from relative constructs. After developing the measurement scale for leader silence, this study empirically explores the association between leader silence and emotional exhaustion. Study 1 developed the measurement scale of leader silence from five dimensions: developmental, testing, distancing, authority-imposing and tactical. Study 2 conducted a survey and demonstrated that when interacting with subordinates, leaders who displayed more silence were more likely to feel stronger emotional exhaustion than others who displayed less silence. This positive association between leader silence and emotional exhaustion was most prominent for authority-imposing and tactical leader silence. The findings suggest that leaders should fully understand the consequences of withholding information from their subordinates, and they should effectively adjust their silence strategy at work. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Leader silence: definition, measurement and relationships to emotional exhaustion

Authors: Gui Huang; Huan Yang; Bing Shi; Xinyuan Zhao; Lingling Li

Addresses: School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ' School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ' Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China ' Professor in Business & Hospitality, School of Liberal Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China ' Zhengzhou Shengda University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

Abstract: This research aims to explore the dimensions, measurements and impacts of leader silence. Specifically, this study defines leader silence and differentiates it from relative constructs. After developing the measurement scale for leader silence, this study empirically explores the association between leader silence and emotional exhaustion. Study 1 developed the measurement scale of leader silence from five dimensions: developmental, testing, distancing, authority-imposing and tactical. Study 2 conducted a survey and demonstrated that when interacting with subordinates, leaders who displayed more silence were more likely to feel stronger emotional exhaustion than others who displayed less silence. This positive association between leader silence and emotional exhaustion was most prominent for authority-imposing and tactical leader silence. The findings suggest that leaders should fully understand the consequences of withholding information from their subordinates, and they should effectively adjust their silence strategy at work.

Keywords: leader silence; emotional exhaustion; authority-imposing leader silence; tactical leader silence; supervisor-subordinate.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2026.155583

European Journal of International Management, 2026 Vol.30 No.1, pp.58 - 79

Received: 01 Jun 2023
Accepted: 19 Apr 2024
Published online: 06 Aug 2026 *

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Title: Leader silence: definition, measurement and relationships to emotional exhaustion

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