Management styles and remote work

January 25, 2021

For most companies, the recent shift to a fully remote working environment has led to some challenges, perhaps most notably when it comes to managing teams. Problems such as lack of trust, excessive monitoring or unrealistic expectations can arise, which will damage the relationship between employees and their managers and even among co-workers.

In order to prevent this happening and to provide as safe a working environment as possible, I wanted to introduce and discuss three leadership styles which could potentially aid in this situation:

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership is a leadership style in which leaders encourage, inspire and motivate employees to innovate and create change that will help grow and shape the future success of the company. This is accomplished by setting an example at the executive level through a strong sense of corporate culture, employee ownership and independence in the workplace.

Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their workforce without micromanaging – they trust trained employees to take authority over decisions in their assigned jobs. It’s a management style designed to give employees more room to be creative, to think outside the box and share their ideas with everyone in the virtual team.

Examples of transformational leaders: Emmanuel Faber, CEO at Danone and Heinrich Hiesinger, former CEO at ThyssenKrupp.

Transactional Leadership

Transactional leadership focuses on results, conforms to an organization’s existing structure and measures success according to that organization’s system of rewards and penalties. Transactional leaders have formal authority and positions of responsibility in an organization.

This type of leader sets the criteria for their workers according to previously defined requirements. Performance reviews are the most common way to judge employee performance. Transactional leaders work best with employees who know their jobs and are motivated by the reward-penalty system.

This leadership style works for virtual teams because it gets the job done. A transactional leader clearly defines their expectations from each team member. Regular follow-ups and progress reports are required to make sure that everyone is on the right track.

Examples of transactional leaders: Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation and Howard Schultz, former CEO at Starbucks Coffee Company.

Situational Leadership

The situational theory of leadership suggests that no single leadership style is best. Instead, it depends on which type of leadership and strategies are best-suited to the task. According to this theory, the most effective leaders are those who can adapt their style to the situation and look at factors such as the type of task and the group’s nature that might contribute to getting the job done.

This type of leadership demands a high level of adaptability and flexibility. For those who adopt this approach, it is essential to have the ability to analyse the situation at hand, so that they can immediately apply the right approach in handling their virtual team.

An example of a situational leader, Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II; examples of companies who have included this leadership style in training are Hilti Corporation and GoDaddy.

To conclude, there is not a one-size-fits-all way of managing. Every employee is unique and will be motivated differently. Some will prefer less frequent check-ins, while others will feel more guided and connected with regular catch-ups. The key is to adapt and to understand what your employees need.

Jobs

  • Banking

Interim International Payroll Manager

Interim International Payroll Manager – £80-85K – 6 month FTC – Victoria My client is a leading firm within financial services. Currently they are in pursuit of an International Payroll Manager to oversee their BAU function on a 6 month FTC. To be considered successful, the ideal applicant must – be a solid track record […]
  • Salary GBP80000 – GBP85000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 5 hours ago
  • Engineering/manufacturing/industrial

HR Shared Services Officer

Frazer Jones is partnering with a leading organisation in Bath to help them recruit an HR Shared Services Officer. This is a fantastic role for someone who enjoys working within HR Shared Services, dealing with all first line support and transactional HR activity. It’s a fast paced and high-volume role where you will be part […]
  • Salary GBP28000 – GBP30000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 6 hours ago
  • FMCG/consumer goods

Reward Specialist

Join the Team as a Reward Specialist! Location: Malta Relocation Support: Comprehensive assistance to help you make a smooth move to Malta. About the business: Are you passionate about the role of total rewards in shaping a high-performance culture? Do you thrive on bringing analytical insights and creative solutions to the table? The Human Resources […]
  • Salary Up to EUR57000 per annum + Relocation & Bonus support
  • Posted Posted 8 hours ago
  • Financial services
  • Legal
  • Professional services

Senior Reward Advisor/Manager

Job Title: Senior Reward Advisor / Reward ManagerLocation: London, UKEmployment Type: Permanent About the Role:We are thrilled to partner with a dynamic, London-based Professional Services firm seeking an experienced Reward professional at the Senior Advisor or Manager level. This is a permanent role within a growing organization that is redefining its People strategy, creating specialist […]
  • Salary GBP60000 – GBP65000 per annum + bonus + benefits
  • Posted Posted 9 hours ago
  • Telecommunications

Senior Compensation Analyst

About the organisation: They are a leading player in the communications sector, dedicated to building a vibrant workplace where top talent thrives. The team is passionate about creating compensation strategies that attract and retain skilled professionals, ensuring the rewards align with the values, business goals, and industry standards. Role Overview: Seeking an experienced and analytical […]
  • Salary GBP50000 – GBP52000 per annum
  • Posted Posted 9 hours ago
  • Asset management
  • Financial services

Reward Analyst (FTC)

Role Overview: My client is seeking a skilled and motivated Reward Analyst to join the team on a 6-month fixed-term contract. This role will support the design, analysis, and administration of our reward programs, ensuring they are competitive, compliant, and aligned with industry best practices. Working closely with the Head of Reward, you will play […]
  • Salary Up to GBP65000 per hour
  • Posted Posted 10 hours ago

Featured Content