Inspiring Employee Engagement in Remote Work: The Influence of Leadership Communication and Trust in Leadership

Remote work has become increasingly prevalent, yet more research is needed to examine the impact of effective leadership communication on employee outcomes in remote work environments. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of leadership communication on establishing trust with remote employees and its subsequent impact on employee engagement in remote work. A quantitative survey research design was employed, involving 527 full-time remote employees in the United States. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed conceptual models. The results indicate that transparent leadership communication and the effective use of communication channels positively affect the perceived quality of leader-member conversations among remote employees, with transparent communication exhibiting a stronger influence. Furthermore, high-quality conversations helped remote employees view their leaders as competent in facilitating remote work, fostering trust and a strong relationship. Ultimately, this relationship led to increased employee engagement in remote work. This study contributes to the existing knowledge on leadership communication and its impact on employee engagement, with a specific focus on the remote work context. The findings provide valuable insights for corporate leaders and communication professionals on cultivating trust in leadership and enhancing remote employee engagement through effective leadership communication.