Leadership Style and Performance in Telework: Examining the Influence of Trust

The present study examines the relationship between leadership and performance for teleworkers. Secondary data analysis was used to examine the effects of the Full Range Leadership Theory on the task and contextual performance of 127 teleworkers. Moderated regression analyses show that affect-based trust only moderates the relationship between laissez-faire leadership and task performance. Mediation analyses show that affect-based trust partially mediates the relationship between all three types of leadership and two types of performance. This study shows that affect-based trust is an important element of the relationship between leaders and teleworkers. Future research should further examine the influence of trust on leadership and other relationships that occur in remote work arrangements.