Abstract:
Leadership communication is requisite for staff productivity. The purpose of the study was
to determine the effect of leadership communication on staff productivity in three medium-
sized banks based in Nairobi, Kenya. The study sought to identify the forms and content of
leadership communication and to determine its effects on staff productivity. To achieve this
purpose, the study employed a descriptive research design, incorporating qualitative and
quantitative techniques. The target population for this study are employees in medium-
sized local commercial banks operating in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of the 86 respondents
identified through proportional sampling technique to participate in the study, 60
successfully completed the data collection questionnaire administered, resulting in a 70%
response rate. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze data through
Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) program version 24.0 (SPSS 22.0). The
study findings established that emails, telephone calls, face-to-face conversations, one-on-
one meetings and team meetings were the most common forms of leadership
communication used. The findings also revealed that leaders in these banks issued content
ranging from instructions, policy directives, supportive guidance, participative guidance,
orders and commendations. Based on these findings, this study’s conclusion is that
leadership communication has effects on staff productivity in medium-sized banks;
specifically, on general financial performance, company profitability, competitiveness in
the industry, credibility, operations and efficiency. Leadership communication also impacts
on staff retention and staff efficiency at work.