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A Conversation Analytical Approach to Business Communication

The Case of Leadership

University of Antwerp, jonathan.clifton{at}ua.ac.be

The use of conversation analysis (CA) as an applied research methodology that can be of interest to business communication is sometimes overlooked. Taking the case of leadership as an example, this article demonstrates how CA can provide a fine-grained analysis of talk-in-interaction during a business meeting, which reveals an emic perspective on "what is going on." By linking such an analysis to wider social theorizing, notably a social constructivist approach to leadership and the construction of reality, CA is able to make explicit the normally "seen but unnoticed" machinery of talk with which leadership is enacted. Moreover, the results of such an analysis can give researchers a clearer insight into the phenomenon and help practitioners improve leadership and communication skills.

Key Words: conversation analysis • leadership • sensemaking • social constructionism • meetings

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