Determining Demographic Influences on Managers’ Use of Accommodation or Non-accommodation in Communication With Direct Reports in Australian Workplaces

This paper outlines a project aiming to identify demographic influences that influence communication by managers with their direct reports in Australian workplaces. A study has been designed using an online survey to identify whether and in what circumstances managers, in the interests of effective communication at work, consciously alter modifiers such as words, tone and the pace of speech, to accommodate perceived demographic differences. The study will also capture whether and in what circumstances managers decide not to alter the way they communicate when demographic differences are perceived. Managers’ responses rating the outcome of a critical interpersonal communication event will be measured against a range of demographic attributes – age, gender, educational background, cultural background, organisational tenure, and English language use. Variations will be analysed to determine the types of demographic factors that influence face to face communication events and perceived outcomes. In addition, the study will determine whether specific demographic factors are associated with the use of accommodative communication practices in diverse workforces.