Factors affecting trust in a remote leader – employee relationship

Abstract: Background Globalization and technological progress have enabled working in a remote context. This is a common feature among actors providing Knowledge-Intense Business Services (KIBS) to companies and organizations, such as consultancy firms. Working in a remote context brings several leadership challenges, and trust is one of the most important ones to tackle.  Aim The aim for this research is to investigate which factors affect the sense of trust a remote leader – employee relationship. As well as look at how they affect that sense.  Methods The author chose a qualitative approach for this thesis with interviews as the source of information. Six people, whom all have a managerial position in Swedish consultant firms, were chosen for semi-structures interviews to open up for discussion and through this get a deeper understanding of the area. Results The factors affect the levels of trust in the relationship. They can also have impact on the type of trust that is perceived in the relationship. Conclusions The analysis of the interview show that all of the factors have an impact on, both each other, as well as trust. Which can lead to an increased or decreased sense of trust. In the case of decrease, or complete lack, of trust, the relationship between leader and employee can not go on.