Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 6.10 Social Sciences
Presentation #1 Title
My Momma Used To Say: Language and Its Effect on Others' Perception of Our Leadership Abilities
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This paper examines how language affects perceptions of leader ability by comparing auto-ethnographic experience with research in communication of leaders. Individuals often change their speech depending on whether they are inside or outside of their cultural group. The first part of the paper is an auto-ethnographic narrative of the researchers’ experience communicating using phrases from her family and regional community outside of her Appalachian region in professional settings. In the classroom unfamiliar terms and phrases used by the instructor can confuse students; I have, as one student described it, a soft southern accent and still use phrases which are unique to my social and family community and culture. The paper’s second half is a review of the literature researching how followers and observers perceive or judge the effectiveness of an individual’s leadership skill and ability. Perceptions impact our social and work advancement. Speech, colloquialisms, local language phrases and their usage while in leadership positions either endear others or cause a barrier of understanding and acceptance of leader influence. The research literature combined with the experience narrative contributes to leadership and Appalachian studies literature in our understanding of the importance of cultural competence and effective communication among all groups. They provide the support for future research, surveying individual perceptions in comparison to this ethnographic experience.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dr. Kegley is an Assistant Professor of Business and Economics at the University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College. Research interests include active learning tools, leadership, change, and socioeconomic independence of women and family. Herself a first generation college student from an Appalachian family, she also trains others to teach students college success techniques.
My Momma Used To Say: Language and Its Effect on Others' Perception of Our Leadership Abilities
Harris Hall 446
This paper examines how language affects perceptions of leader ability by comparing auto-ethnographic experience with research in communication of leaders. Individuals often change their speech depending on whether they are inside or outside of their cultural group. The first part of the paper is an auto-ethnographic narrative of the researchers’ experience communicating using phrases from her family and regional community outside of her Appalachian region in professional settings. In the classroom unfamiliar terms and phrases used by the instructor can confuse students; I have, as one student described it, a soft southern accent and still use phrases which are unique to my social and family community and culture. The paper’s second half is a review of the literature researching how followers and observers perceive or judge the effectiveness of an individual’s leadership skill and ability. Perceptions impact our social and work advancement. Speech, colloquialisms, local language phrases and their usage while in leadership positions either endear others or cause a barrier of understanding and acceptance of leader influence. The research literature combined with the experience narrative contributes to leadership and Appalachian studies literature in our understanding of the importance of cultural competence and effective communication among all groups. They provide the support for future research, surveying individual perceptions in comparison to this ethnographic experience.
