Leadership and trust in virtual teams

Background Advances in technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to increased use of remote work arrangements. Yet, research studies have examined the role of trust between leaders and employees in remote working conditions, despite the general relevance of trust to collaboration. Objective Here, we aim to investigate the specifics of remote working arrangements with a focus on the concept of leadership and trust in remote settings as opposed to classical teams. Methods For this purpose, expert interviews were conducted with representatives from the automobile, pharmaceutical, and financial services industries which have been contacted for that purpose. Results The expert interviews have clearly shown that differences exist between presence and remote conditions, while there is a realm of determinants which can influence remote team performance. Leadership plays an important role in the functioning of remote teams, including creating conditions that can help build trust. Conclusions Due to the increased importance of remote working, leadership must take necessary steps to provide optimal conditions so that organizations and employees can benefit from remote working. That requires a careful approach which does consider the specific determinants and the environments that characterize the organization.