The impact of digitalization on leadership

In terms of affecting organizations’ ability to streamline their work, digital upscaling has played a major role as it allows for flexible environments and the use of digital communication tools. Digital communication tools, such as email, text messages and video calls are increasingly replacing the traditional way of meeting face to face. This puts pressure on leaders who are forced to adapt to the digital tools and its possibilities. Possibilities include a more flexible work environment which is something e-leadership has gained ground for as organizations are looking to establish a cost effective and productive workforce. However, such possibilities can also cause constrain on employee’swellbeing as it allows for work outside office hours. E-leadership has become the theoretical framework when researching the digitalization’s effect on leadership. Through a literature overview we have conducted a study based on three indicators: competence, communication and virtual teams. The findings reveal a complexity in the concept as many factors need to be accounted for. Vital for successful e-leadership is putting clear guidelines in place while making sure leaders have an understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the digital tools being used. A possibility, which has also turned out to be a limitation, is that work and leisure are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish