Hybrid Team Leadership - An exploratory study on leadership competencies and team performance

Sammanfattning: RESEARCH AIM The aim of this study is to provide a deeper understanding in how leadership competencies are perceived to be important for hybrid team members team performance in both, a virtual and face-to-face setting. This, to investigate how different leadership competencies could be used by a hybrid team leader to manage the hybrid teams performance. RESEARCH METHOD This study uses qualitative research method and is conducted by using exploratory research. The data for this study was collected through 10 semi-structured interviews with hybrid team members. The collected data was analysed by using a thematic analysis approach. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE Previous literature has been examined, where three concepts have been chosen for this study: Hybrid teams, hybrid team leadership and leadership competencies. Based on the examined literature, a conceptual framework was constructed by the authors. RESULTS Interpersonal sensitivity as a leadership competence was fundamentally important for all hybrid team members, as a strong socio-emotional relationship was required to create a desire for other competencies. The complexity of hybrid teams was evident in how virtual team members perceived leadership actions, as they felt misunderstood by the hybrid team leader and alienated from the hybrid team. CONCLUSION The hybrid team leader needs to carefully consider the virtual team members needs to mitigate their negative perception of team performance. It could be done by allowing more autonomy by practising a supportive leadership role, use one-to-one meetings for relationship building, and by giving clear guidelines. KEYWORDS Hybrid team, Virtual team, Face-to-face team, Hybrid leadership, Leadership competencies, Team performance.