Active Listening, Storytelling, and the Employee Experience: A Phenomenological Study of Leadership Communication, Stress, and Work-Life Balance
Abstract
This phenomenological study explores how employees experience leadership communication, focusing on active listening and storytelling as relational practices that influence work-life balance, stress, and the employee experience. Guided by Moustakas’s qualitative framework, data were collected through a two-step process consisting of a written reflection questionnaire, followed by semi-structured interviews, to capture participants' lived experiences. Data were analyzed using iterative coding procedures to identify meaning units and develop thematic clusters. Findings show that active listening provides validation, clarity, and emotional support, while storytelling aids sensemaking and strengthens shared purpose. Together, these behaviors shape employees’ well-being, boundary management, and commitment. The study contributes new insight into how communication functions as a psychological and relational resource in contemporary workplaces.
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