Media, communication, and trust: A virtual teams conundrum

Although previous research suggests that virtual work teams have difficulty communicating effectively, little research considers the effects of different forms of virtualization on specific forms of communication, or what can be done to mitigate any negative effects. Our study examines the effect of different levels of virtualization on leadership- and socially-oriented communication behaviours specifically, and suggests that virtual teams engage in fewer of these behaviours, leading to subsequent losses in team process and performance. Interestingly, disclosure-based trust encouraged leadership and social communication across all teams, suggesting that trust may play a role in mitigating the challenges faced by virtual teams