An analysis of superiors' compliments and the effect on their subordinates

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of "superiors' compliments" which means affirmative communication superiors gave to their subordinates. A survey questionnaire was administered to 443 managers in 3 private companies. At the same time another questionnaire was administered to their 923 subordinates. The following three findings were revealed through the results: First, factor analysis indicated that "superiors compliments" given by managers consisted of 4 factors, such as, honest affirmations to subordinates, listening to their subordinates' stories untill the end, and so on. Second, superiors' compliments had effects on their subordinates' self-confidence, motivation for their work, positive feeling for their workplace and trust relationships to their superiors. Third, managers' self-cognition of giving compliments were consistent in some degree with subordinates' cognition compliments given by their managers. Implications and future research subjects were discussed.