Leading and motivating employees in a remote work environment
Pitkänen, Tia-Tuulia (2021)
Pitkänen, Tia-Tuulia
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052010095
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052010095
Tiivistelmä
This thesis focuses on remote work, employee work motivation and leadership. Remote work has become one of the most common ways of working due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Employee motivation is low due to the lack of social interactions and leaders have to adapt leadership in the new working environment. The objective of this thesis was to examine how to effectively lead and motivate employee in a remote work environment. The purpose was to research employee motivation in a remote work environment and understand leadership styles and characteristics support motivation in remote environment. The aim was to provide recommendations for leaders how to increase employee motivation in the remote work environment.
The thesis consists of a theoretical part which presents literature findings related to work motivation, motivation and leadership theories and e-leadership to obtain better understanding of the topic. A qualitative survey was conducted to support the research and to gain divers perspectives and experiences from employees in different position in organizations.
The research findings showed that the main three factors that affect employee motivation in a remote work and that can be improved by leadership are employee-leader trust, communication, and social interactions. The results also revealed that the lack of social interactions has also influenced leadership. Maintaining an effective, innovative, and collaborative team is time consuming and challenging in the remote environment. Based on the theory and research findings the author was able to construct recommendations to improve employee motivation and leading in a remote environment. These include ergonomic work conditions, determining and discussing expectations and goals, invest in communication and leader availability which improves trust, creating spontaneous interactions virtually and providing team communication guidelines. As a leader showing support, being participative and involving within the team’s work, along with internalize the needed e-competences in a virtual environment.
The thesis consists of a theoretical part which presents literature findings related to work motivation, motivation and leadership theories and e-leadership to obtain better understanding of the topic. A qualitative survey was conducted to support the research and to gain divers perspectives and experiences from employees in different position in organizations.
The research findings showed that the main three factors that affect employee motivation in a remote work and that can be improved by leadership are employee-leader trust, communication, and social interactions. The results also revealed that the lack of social interactions has also influenced leadership. Maintaining an effective, innovative, and collaborative team is time consuming and challenging in the remote environment. Based on the theory and research findings the author was able to construct recommendations to improve employee motivation and leading in a remote environment. These include ergonomic work conditions, determining and discussing expectations and goals, invest in communication and leader availability which improves trust, creating spontaneous interactions virtually and providing team communication guidelines. As a leader showing support, being participative and involving within the team’s work, along with internalize the needed e-competences in a virtual environment.