International Journal of Business Communication 1–19 © The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/2329488416675447 job.sagepub.com Article Communication: Sine Qua Non of Organizational Leadership Theory and Practice Brent D. Ruben 1 and Ralph A. Gigliotti 1 Abstract Much has been written about the nature of leadership communication; however, the linkage often is limited to a view of communication as a strategic mechanism—or technique—to be employed by leaders in efforts to achieve specific purposes. This limited conceptualization of leadership communication does not fully capture the pervasive role of communication, and it fails to provide a nuanced view of the role communication plays in organizational dynamics, and in business settings, in particular. This article begins with an overview of various dichotomies raised in the leadership literature that have tended to impede rather than advance our understanding. We then discuss the evolution of thinking about communication and conclude with a discussion of several principles that can enhance contemporary organizational and business communication theory and practice. Keywords leadership, communication, communication theory, business communication, social influence Interest in the nature of leadership has grown substantially in recent years in profes- sional as well as academic literature. This interest spans disciplines and sectors, and the topic is of particular interest to those involved in the study and practice of organi- zational and business communication. Communication is a topic frequently linked to leadership; however, the linkage often is limited to a view of communication as a strategic mechanism—or technique—to be employed by leaders in efforts to achieve 1 Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA Corresponding Author: Brent D. Ruben, Rutgers University, 4 Huntington St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Email: bruben@rutgers.edu 675447JOB XX X 10.1177/2329488416675447International Journal of Business CommunicationRuben and Gigliotti research-article 2016 by guest on November 10, 2016 job.sagepub.com Downloaded from