An analysis of leader and follower behaviours in the context of new ways of working (NWW) : evidence from the German IT industry and recommendations for companies

Abstract

Information technology (IT) enables certain sectors of a workforce to work wherever and whenever they want. This new flexibility has led to New Ways of Working (NWW): a working style that emphasises mutual trust, empowerment and the freedom to work anywhere and anytime. Pre-COVID-19, Germany ranked considerably below the European average for remote and time-independent working. The pandemic substantially disrupted the German workforce and led to almost 18 million German employees working from home from one day to the next. Predictions foresee that NWW will become the new standard instead of the exception; thus, companies and their leaders will need to adapt rapidly to these new working conditions. This research will, therefore, address the following questions: What are behaviours that are shown by leaders and followers in NWW? Will daily interactions between leaders and followers have an impact on their mutual trust relationship? How do leaders engage in behaviours that empower their followers? Are there any other significant leader behaviours in NWW? To answer these questions, this study will be conducted in the German IT industry. Qualitative diary research is followed to provide relevant insights into the behaviour of leaders and followers. The findings are analysed and later triangulated with semi-structured interviews. The results add to the existing literature on NWW and provide guidance on what constitutes appropriate leadership behaviour in this new work environment. The key outcome is a new framework of leader behaviours and follower outcomes (LBFO) in NWW. This framework provides insights into the expected leader behaviours and the resulting affective state of the follower. From this, three fields were identified to give concrete, easily implemented guidelines for companies which adopt NWW: (I) guidelines for leader behaviour, (II) guidelines on an organisational level and (III) considerations for organisational culture. This research project adds to and expands on current theory, suggests practical implications, and provides a new modern framework which companies can implement at various levels. It also paves the way for future research into this field.