What are the key paradoxes of virtual leadership?
Flexibility vs. Control – autonomy vs. accountability.
Distance vs. Presence – dispersed teams vs. sense of connection.
Technology vs. Human Connection – depersonalization vs. trust-building.
Global Talent vs. Local Bonding – diversity vs. misunderstanding.
What are the three orientations toward virtuality in the paradoxical virtual leadership model?
Synergistic leaders
Selective leaders
Stagnant leaders
Synergistic leaders
Use a “both/and” mindset to integrate opposing demands.
Selective leaders
Use an “either/or” lens, reacting rather than balancing.
Stagnant leaders
Become paralyzed by contradictions.
What are the three specific paradox types Purvanova & Kenda discuss?
Technology dependence paradox
Geographic dispersion paradox
Human capital paradox
What is the main goal of Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT)?
To describe leadership suited for the knowledge era—adaptive, dynamic, and emergent—rather than hierarchical and mechanistic.
What is “entanglement” in CLT?
The dynamic relationship between formal (administrative) and informal (emergent) forces within social systems.
What are the three leadership functions in CLT?
Administrative Leadership
Adaptive Leadership
Enabling Leadership
Administrative Leadership
formal structure, control, coordination, stability.
Adaptive Leadership
emergent, bottom-up processes fostering innovation and learning.
Enabling Leadership
facilitates interaction between administrative and adaptive systems.
Why is balance important among the three CLT leadership roles?
Too much bureaucracy suppresses innovation; too much emergence undermines order and coordination.
What is the core premise of DeRue’s Adaptive Leadership Theory?
Leadership is a dynamic process of leading–following interactions that adapt to context and feedback.
What are “leading–following double interacts”?
Back-and-forth exchanges between people that generate leadership and followership roles over time
How does DeRue view leadership roles?
As fluid and interchangeable—any individual can lead or follow depending on context.
What is the main contribution of Adaptive Leadership Theory?
It offers a micro-level, process-based understanding of how leadership emerges, adapts, and evolves dynamically.
How does DeRue’s approach differ from traditional leadership models?
It rejects the fixed leader–follower hierarchy and emphasizes interaction, emergence, and adaptability.
What is e-leadership?
A social influence process mediated by advanced information technology to produce change in individuals, groups, or organizations.
What is transformational leadership?
Leadership that transforms followers’ attitudes, motivations, and behaviors to achieve higher performance and commitment.
What is transactional leadership?
A leadership style based on exchange—rewards for compliance and performance.
What is Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) theory?
Suggests each leader–follower relationship is unique; high-quality relationships are built on trust and mutual influence, while low-quality ones remain transactional.
What is shared leadership theory?
Leadership is distributed among team members who share responsibility for influencing and guiding the group.
What are the types of communication in virtual work environments?
Synchronous: Real-time (e.g. video calls).
Asynchronous: Time-lagged (e.g. email).
Rich: Includes verbal, non-verbal cues and feedback.
Lean: Minimal socio-emotional cues.
