Att leda på distans och på plats - En kvalitativ studie om chefers förutsättningar att utöva ledarskap på distans och på plats

Abstract

This study aims to explore managers’ experiences and perceived conditions for exercising leadership in both hybrid and physical work environments. The empirical material consists of eleven semi-structured interviews and four policy documents. The sample includes eleven managers, of whom six work in a physical environment and five in a hybrid setting. The study follows an inductive approach, where the interviews were first collected and later analyzed by identifying patterns and connecting them to theories on different leadership styles, monitoring, and trust. The findings show that managers in physical environments experience several natural channels of communication and an enhanced ability to make quick decisions. Managers operating in hybrid environments report advantages related to recruitment and employee well-being. At the same time, they face challenges concerning communication, collaboration, and team cohesion. Through its analysis and conclusions, the study contributes with insights into managers’ perspectives on the conditions for leadership in these two work models.