The salience of remote leadership: implications for follower self-control and work-life balance
International Journal of Manpower
ISSN: 0143-7720
Article publication date: 22 June 2023
Issue publication date: 23 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine whether remote work moderates the mediated relationship between leadership behavior (transformational leadership and leader incivility), followers' self-control, and work-life balance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a three-wave, time lagged study of 338 followers. Drawing on social information processing theory, a moderated mediation model was proposed: it was hypothesized that remote work strengthens the relationship between leadership behavior (transformational leadership and leader incivility), follower self-control, and subsequent work-life balance (moderated mediation). The theoretical model was tested using OLS regression in SPSS.
Findings
The results show that working remotely strengthens the mediated relationships between leadership behavior, self-control, and work-life balance.
Practical implications
Organizations need to consider the interaction between remote work and leadership. Leader behaviors have a stronger relationship with follower self-control and work-life balance when the frequency of remote work is higher, so it is important to increase transformational leadership and reduce leader incivility in remote contexts. Leadership training programs and respectful workplace initiatives should be considered.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates the importance of leader behaviors for followers' self-control and work-life balance in relation to remote work. This study is the first to examine the boundary condition of remote work in relation to leadership behavior, follower self-control, and work-life balance.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported with funding from the Grandey Leadership Initiative, Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan.
Citation
Walsh, M.M., Carleton, E.L., Ziemer, J. and Ortynsky, M. (2024), "The salience of remote leadership: implications for follower self-control and work-life balance", International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 45 No. 2, pp. 237-254. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-12-2022-0652
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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