Unravelling the Paradox between Digital Leadership and Remote Workers' Engagement

Abstract

In recent years, the world has witnessed a steady rise in remote working. This mode of remote work presents unique characteristics and challenges. Given the widespread adoption of work-from-home arrangements, understanding the work engagement of remote employees has become an intriguing question. This study investigates the role of digital leadership in shaping organizational culture and, in turn, influencing employee engagement. Using a structured survey questionnaire, data were systematically collected from a sample of 311 remote workers. The findings reveal that digital leadership significantly influences organizational culture, which subsequently enhances employee engagement. Specifically, the study confirms the mediating role of organizational culture in the relationship between digital leadership and employee engagement. The results suggest that digital leadership fosters an adhocracy culture, which, in turn, promotes higher levels of work engagement among employees. The discussion and implications of these findings are presented in light of the study’s results.