Meta advice: Training organizational members to practice advice-seeking with their immediate supervisor

Abstract

This study explores whether individuals can be trained in the skill of advice-seeking and whether upward advice-seeking shapes the quality of leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships. LMX theory posit that, through a process of role negotiation, individuals develop either an in-group or out-group relationship with their immediate supervisor. In-group relationships are often prized as they provide individuals an opportunity to develop a rich, high-quality relationship with their supervisor. This study examined whether training in communication skills, specifically advice-seeking, would help employees improve the quality of their bond with their supervisor. Full-time employees working at a university (N = 149) were randomly assigned to receive advice-seeking training or to a control group condition. One hundred and one immediate supervisors also responded to survey items about their direct reports who participated in the study. Data analysis revealed two patterns: (a) individuals can be trained on advice-seeking skills quickly and with little expense and (b) irrespective of training, strong self-efficacy in advice-seeking (SEAS) behaviors was positively associated with employees’ sense of psychological safety with their immediate supervisor. Integrating these results in current organizational communication literature would provide prospects to overcome existing limitations, and avenues for future recommendations for both scholars and practitioners.