Understanding the efficacy of leadership communication styles in flex work contexts

Purpose Because a large number of employees now work remotely, either completely or partially (e.g. flexible), it is imperative that scholars and practitioners understand the implications of remote work, such as how employee satisfaction is impacted. Design/methodology/approach This study examined leadership communication styles to understand how they may be perceived differently for remote workers. Results from an online survey (N = 403) revealed that while higher perceptions of leadership communication styles (responsive, vigilant and motivating language) were related to increased employee satisfaction, the amount of time spent working remotely did not moderate these relationships. Findings The findings suggest that the benefits of demonstrating leadership communication strategies can be extended from physical environments into online spaces. Originality/value This study is unique in that it centers on communication-forward leadership styles and applies them to remote contexts. Furthermore, remote work is conceptualized as a continuous variable as opposed to a binary, allowing for increased nuance.