Leadership is usually a relationship between the leader and the people being led. The social actions between and among people enable them to work together in meaningful ways to produce leadership outcomes. In a high-power and authority context, such as an entry-level employee working with the CEO, the communication is likely to be both task based and relationship oriented.

The entry-level worker, having much less power and authority, is likely to emphasize politeness, speak formally, and be complimentary. How leaders build relationships has changed somewhat in the modern era and its emphasis on interacting with people electronically. It is common practice for leaders to give recognition and praise via e-mail or a posting on the company social media site, or a public social media site such as Facebook or Twitter.

Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. In addition to sparking innovation, the face-to-face encounters help develop relationships.