By Andrew C. Loignon
Center for Creative Leadership
Diane M. Bergeron
Center for Creative Leadership
Michael A. Johnson
Louisiana State University
Alexandra M. Dunn
University of Mary Washington
Christina S. Li
University of Oklahoma
Hector Martinez
University of Kentucky
Sabrina Speights
Center for Creative Leadership
Haley M. Woznyj
Longwood University
Summary
This article revisits the “babble hypothesis,” which explores the relationship between speaking time and leader emergence, through the lens of signaling theory. The study investigates whether speaking time is accurately observed, how its dynamic nature affects leadership outcomes, and whether perceptions differ based on gender. Using data from 38 teams, our findings suggest that average speaking time enhances perceptions of leader emergence and that others can readily perceive one another’s speaking time. Perceived speaking time, then, is associated with one’s likelihood of emerging as a leader. It also highlights that gender has limited effects on leader emergence once speaking time is accounted for.
The study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the importance of perception in the babble hypothesis, addressing concerns about endogeneity bias, and replicating earlier findings with new design features. The study’s design includes methods to mitigate endogeneity bias, ensuring consistent and unbiased parameter estimates, and extends earlier research examining the babble hypothesis by using a different group task and recording various types of conversations.
Additionally, the article explores gender differences in how speaking time is perceived and suggests that these perceptions may contribute to gender biases in leadership emergence. The findings imply that variability in speaking time does not function the same as the amount at which one speaks and that gender differences in leadership emergence may arise not just from speech production but from how signals are interpreted by others. This research offers insights about the generalizability of leader behavior effects across demographic groups and raises important questions into the role of dynamic signals in leadership emergence.
Citation
Loignon, A.C., Bergeron, D. M., Johnson, M. M., Dunn, A., Li, C., Martinez, H., Speights, S., & Wozynyj, H. (in press). Signaling with babble? Exploring the effects of gender and speaking time on leader emergence. The Leadership Quarterly.
