LEADERSHIP IN HYBRID AND REMOTE WORK MODELS: NAVIGATING PRODUCTIVITY, ENGAGEMENT, AND TEAM COHESION IN DISTRIBUTED ENVIRONMENTS
Abstract
The workplace has changed dramatically. What began as emergency pandemic responses have now become standard organizational practices, with hybrid and remote work reshaping how we think about leadership itself. Recent data from Gallup (2025) presents an interesting paradox: fully remote workers show the strongest engagement at 31%—higher than hybrid workers at 23% and on-site employees at 19%—yet these same remote workers struggle more with overall wellbeing, with only 36% thriving compared to 42% of their hybrid colleagues. This creates genuine challenges for today's leaders, who must somehow balance giving people flexibility while keeping teams connected, granting autonomy while maintaining accountability, and using digital tools to foster human connection rather than isolation.
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