Sports are more than just organized activities that allow athletes to engage in healthy competition while showcasing their physical skills and talents; they are programs that promote character development and leadership. Whether it’s a professional sports team or a recreational league designed for fun and developing players, leadership plays a critical role in any sports organization. Leadership styles in sports can significantly impact team performance, athlete motivation, and overarching team cohesion — relying on coaches and administrators to adopt a style that promotes a positive team culture and productive dynamic.
Understanding Leadership Styles in Sports
Not all organizational leaders in sports adopt a singular leadership style. Multiple leadership styles are applicable to sports, with each being leveraged in strategic ways to motivate players and cultivate a positive culture within the organization at large. Understanding the most common leadership styles in sports can help sports administrators, managers, and coaches develop a personal approach that is best suited to their own team.
Key Factors Influencing Leadership Styles in Sports
Several factors may influence the leadership style of a sports administrator, coach, or captain:
- The type of sport – The game play involved in a given sport along with the competitiveness of the league will have a direct impact on the type of leadership style required for success.
- The level of competition – Sports organizations that are less competitive (such as youth development leagues focused primarily on skill building and having fun) will not demand the same type of leadership style as more established and competitive sports leagues, such as amateur or professional organizations designed for adults.
- The team’s goals – The process of working together as a team begins by identifying goals that the entire team can work toward. Once the captain, coach, or sports manager is aware of the team’s goals, they can begin adopting a leadership style that keeps all members motivated.
- Individual team dynamics – The combination of personalities on any given team will heavily influence team dynamics and thus requires organizational leaders to be versatile when adopting a particular leadership style. A leadership style that works well for one athlete may be detrimental to another, making it important for coaches and organizational leaders to be self-aware, intuitive, and flexible.
Common Leadership Styles in Sports
While there is a wide range of leadership styles in sports management to consider, a few key leadership styles appear most frequently among coaches and sports administrators. Becoming familiar with the most prevalent leadership styles observed in sports, plus knowing how these styles manifest in the behaviors and actions of coaches and team captains, can help you become more aware of the leadership style that best suits you.
Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leadership is a directive leadership style in which coaches view themselves as the team’s sole leader and decision-maker. Coaches that adopt an autocratic leadership style tend to make decisions without seeking input or feedback from team members or other key stakeholders.
Although autocratic leadership may be effective in situations that demand quick and decisive action, it can be a detrimental style in higher-level, competitive sports teams. According to research published in The Sport Journal, the autocratic leadership style was the least-preferred leadership style among college student athletes surveyed — with respondents expressing that the autocratic leadership style can reduce overall motivation to play and limit the players’ ability to be creative while playing their chosen sport. The study notes that the autocratic leadership style focuses primarily on negative feedback and criticism, with some respondents stating that they preferred positive affirmations and reinforcement when playing competitively.
Democratic Leadership
Directly contrasting the autocratic leadership style, the democratic leadership style is a participative style in which coaches regularly seek input from team members and collaborate when making decisions. According to research published in Frontiers in Psychology, the democratic leadership style is more likely to cultivate positive coach-athlete relationships. This collaborative approach to coaching and team-building allows all stakeholders to feel as if they have the chance to contribute, fostering a sense of ownership among athletes and encouraging athletic development. Coaches who adopt a democratic leadership style are often able to develop and promote a positive team environment.
Laissez-faire Leadership
Though some coaches prefer to be directly involved in the decision-making of the team, those who adopt a laissez-faire leadership style tend to take a hands-off approach to coaching and management. According to the National Society of Leadership and Success, laissez-faire leadership is a sports leadership style in which the coach or captain provides individual players with significant autonomy to make the decisions they feel are best for the team. Coaches who prefer the laissez-faire style place a deep sense of trust in their team by allowing them to make decisions, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. While this leadership style can foster creativity and motivation in highly skilled athletes, it may not be the most effective style for developing athletes or those who require more structure and direction to reach their fullest potential.
Transformational Leadership
The most charismatic and energetic coaches in sports often consider themselves to be transformational leaders. Transformational leadership is defined as a popular leadership style in which the coach or captain works to inspire those around them to do their best and achieve their goals. A transformational leader is genuinely invested in the success of both individuals on the team as well as the organization overall.
Transformational leadership places a substantial focus on individual growth, collective goals, and creating a culture of excellence. According to research published in Applied Psychology, transformational leadership in sports not only improves team cohesion but also promotes positive outcomes. By actively working to inspire and motivate all members of the team, coaches can improve athletic performance and share life lessons with players that they will carry with them both on and off the field.
However, some potential pitfalls of transformational leadership include a lack of focus, structure, guidance, and clear expectations, as well as implementing too many changes at once that disrupt standard protocols and consistent strategies that have historically formed a foundation of success. This is not to mention the potential for emotional exhaustion among leaders themselves, given the amount of energy they commit to remaining a motivating force.
Servant Leadership
The servant leadership style is often adopted by those who are motivated to lead as a way to give back to their communities. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that the servant leadership style is common among coaches and sports managers, especially those working for local organizations and youth development programs.
According to the National Society of Leadership and Success, servant leadership requires a coach to put the needs of their athletes ahead of their own. It is a leadership style focused on supporting the holistic development of athletes, and it ultimately fosters a sense of community among the team. Servant leaders have a unique ability to empower athletes and create a supportive team environment, as they are less concerned with the title and status of their own position.
Servant leadership carries its own set of disadvantages. For one, this type of consultative decision-making is not particularly applicable in scenarios calling for quick or crisis-driven action. In reality, it can also place an undue burden and extra work on the leader. Plus, it is relatively rare for coaches to possess the experience, selflessness, or authenticity this leadership style embodies by definition.
The Evolution of Leadership Styles in Sports
Over time, leadership styles in sports have evolved considerably, particularly as coaches began to recognize the effects of their leadership styles on their teams’ development and success. Leadership philosophies have shifted over the decades to accommodate societal changes, the latest sports psychology research findings, and the changing expectations of athletes.
The Rise of Sports Psychology
Smithsonian Magazine notes that the field of sports psychology was first developed in the late 19th century, but it wasn’t until the latter half of the 20th century that sports psychology research began to expand significantly. As the volume of research has increased in the sports psychology field, there have been revealing findings, many of which focus on how coaching and leadership style can influence athlete development and performance. Sports leaders, including coaches and team captains, have been able to leverage sports psychology research findings to develop a deeper understanding of athlete motivation, team dynamics, and the impact of various leadership styles in sports management.
Choosing the Right Leadership Style
The leadership style you take on as a coach, sports manager, or team captain will depend greatly on the type of team with which you are working. As you look to improve your leadership skills and adopt one of the leading sports leadership styles, you will want to keep in mind your team’s maturity level, the specific sport you are involved in, and the individual needs of the athletes with whom you work. In some cases, you may find that you blend several leadership styles in sports in order to develop an approach that is uniquely suited to the dynamics of your team.
Matching Leadership Style to Team Dynamics
Before you select a leadership style and begin refining your approach to coaching, assess the dynamics of your team. You can do this by:
- Considering the team’s experience level and the type of sports leadership style that will best help your athletes grow and develop.
- Evaluating the personality traits of individual team members and determining which leadership style will best motivate those athletes.
- Considering the cultural backgrounds of all team members and crafting a leadership style that is both culturally aware and responsive.
Adapting Leadership Style to Different Situations
The fact is that you do not have to rely solely on one leadership style throughout your tenure. Most likely, you will find that you can adapt your style to accommodate different situations. For instance, you may adopt a more autocratic style during high-pressure competitions yet take a more democratic approach during team-building and training sessions.
Explore Leadership Styles in Sports Management at Johnson & Wales University
Operational leaders in sports hold the key to success, both on and off the field. Aspiring professionals who are interested in learning more about which sports leadership styles best align with their own values should consider the online Master of Business Administration in Sport Leadership degree offered at Johnson & Wales University. Covering contemporary leadership styles, global issues in sports, and sports team operations, this graduate degree equips business-focused administrators with the skills needed for success in the competitive world of sports.
For more information about completing your degree online, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].