The Challenges of Digital Leadership—a Critical Analysis in Times of Disruptive Changes

The following paper deals with the challenges of digital leadership in times of disruptive changes, using the example of the current crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic. The research objective is to examine most important challenges of digital leadership by focusing on changes that have emerged through Covid-19, and to show leaders solutions how they could efficiently overcome the challenging times. The topic of digital leadership is more important and more present nowadays than ever. Companies and employees are experiencing a change in a new way of work. It is not that the trend towards remote work did not exist before, but the pandemic led to major consequences that have accelerated this process. In addition to a literature-based study of the topic, an empirical study was carried out. Seven experts from different industries and backgrounds were asked about the subject in a semi-structured interview. Above all, it stood out leaders especially place value on social skills and self-competences, as for instance: empathy, conflict management, self-reflection, transdisciplinary, openness to innovation and change, resilience and being communicative. Distinctly those competences help them in times of crisis to better respond to the needs and concerns of their employees.