Editorial
Management is important for remote working to succeed. It can be tempting to use Orwellian surveillance technology to snoop on remote workers, but it's an approach with a predictably disastrous impact on the relationship between managers and employees, as it signifies a complete erosion in trust.
A recent study from Auburn University further underlined the importance of ethics when managing a remote workforce.
The researchers tested whether ethical leadership still counts when managing a remote workforce. After all, surely ethical leadership is most powerful when it's something that is visible on a day-to-day basis? One might assume, therefore, that it's something that is more potent in a physical rather than virtual environment — something perhaps that is easier to erode, such as with excessive surveillance, than it is to build.
A Remote Work Management Study
Researchers tested this in a sales environment, both because it's an environment where remote work is high, and also that it's an environment where ethical behavior is important.
"Given the popularity of remote work in sales, many salespeople may be unable to observe the ethical behavior of a leader, producing a potential tension between this beneficial leadership style and remote work arrangements," researchers explained.
Researchers conducted three studies of remote sales professionals across the United States to understand how ethical leadership affects factors such as their performance and general well-being. This was measured via the employees' affective organizational commitment, or their perceived emotional attachment to the organization.
Results clearly show that ethics matter, even in a remote environment. The study shows that ethical leadership had a positive effect on both employee performance and well-being, with this just as true in a remote setting as in a face-to-face setting.
"Remote supervision does not negatively impact the relationship between ethical leadership and affective commitment and, in some cases, may be positive," the researchers explained.
What Is Ethical Remote Management?
So what does ethical leadership mean? As with remote monitoring, researchers believe transparent communication is key. Leaders can also strive to model integrity in their words and actions, and can establish ethical standards.
This last point is important, as research from the Stockholm School of Economics suggests the managers can often reward employees who break the rules, especially if doing so benefits the team in some way — a scenario one could imagine in a sales environment. Previous studies have shown how attitudes can become contagious at work, so a poor culture can rapidly emerge, even in a remote setting.
It underlines why management is key to whether remote work is successful. Despite high-profile cases, remote work has remained significantly above pre-pandemic levels, suggesting it's a trend that's here to stay. As a result, it's vital that managers adjust their behaviors to get the most out of remote teams.
One of the common arguments against remote work is that people can't be trusted to be productive and efficient. The reality is that managers can be just as influential over this as they can in a face-to-face environment.
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Ultimately, while remote work changes the landscape of leadership, it doesn’t diminish the importance or the impact of ethical behavior from those in charge. If anything, it makes ethical behavior more essential. Without the physical cues and spontaneous moments that typically reinforce values in traditional offices, ethical leadership must become more deliberate and intentional in virtual settings.
Trust, transparency and consistent communication are cornerstones of this approach. Rather than defaulting to surveillance or control, managers must lead with integrity, clearly communicate expectations and use available tools to maintain human connection. When done well, ethical leadership not only survives the shift to remote work, but thrives, creating teams that are more committed, more engaged and more capable of navigating an evolving work landscape with confidence.
The challenge isn’t whether remote work can support strong leadership. It’s whether leaders are willing to adapt.
Editor's Note: Need more leadership inspiration? Read on:
- Hybrid Work Leadership Is Hard. Some Tips to Get It Right — Leading a hybrid workforce isn’t rocket science, but it’s not always easy. This second in a five–part series provides valuable pointers to lead with success.
- 5 Principles of Good Leadership From the Dalia Lama — Compassion, agency, advocacy, self-compassion and contentment are just a few of the leadership lessons Dr. Al'ai Alvarez learned from Tibetan Buddhist leaders.
- Helping Employees Regain Workplace Trust — Trust isn’t a given. It has to be earned — especially with team members who’ve been marginalized, underestimated or burned out in past roles.
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