The Birth of the Stars: A Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection Investigation into the Leadership and Development of a New Superleague Netball Club

Abstract

This Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection (PAAR) investigation illustrates a leader’s first steps in a “values-to-action” journey. Drawing on the interface between transformational leadership and organizational culture, this study focused on the birth of the Severn Stars—a professional netball club in the United Kingdom. In particular, this PAAR investigation explored how the leader’s values were operationalized through the club’s inaugural year. Fourteen operational managers, coaches, and players were individually interviewed in order to gain an appreciative gaze and subsequently reframe their lived experience. Results demonstrated how transformational leadership was manifested through the pragmatic deployment of club values and how the organizational culture was, in part, characterized by individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, idealized influence, and inspirational motivation. These behaviors and the organizational culture were shown to enhance prosocial relationships and social connections across the club, the influence of the Super Stars, and stakeholders’ perceptions of autonomy.

Understanding the Leadership and Environmental Mechanisms in a Super League Netball Club

“…The findings in this section have demonstrated that whilst there are clear connections between the gears of Appropriate Settings and Quality Social Dynamics, most notably relating to the club structure and social environment, there are many elements which are not producing the frictionless movement which might see the gears turning more smoothly in this context. The power of the Superleague to act as an inspirational incentive was also reported by Navin et al (2020), and remains strongly in evidence in this second year of the club's operation. Navin et al (2020) also reported that investigating the roles and perceptions of a broader range of stakeholders would provide further insight into the club's overall connectivity.…”

“…The power of the Superleague to act as an inspirational incentive was also reported by Navin et al (2020), and remains strongly in evidence in this second year of the club's operation. Navin et al (2020) also reported that investigating the roles and perceptions of a broader range of stakeholders would provide further insight into the club's overall connectivity.…”

“…The present investigation is positioned across the second year of operation of the Severn Stars (a Superleague netball club in the UK) and builds on the findings of Navin et al (2020) who investigated the club's inaugural year. Navin et al (2020) conducted a Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection (PAAR, Ghaye et al, 2008) investigation focusing on how the overall leader's values were operationalized, reporting numerous positive leadership practices such as the Transformational behaviors (Bass & Riggio, 2006) of most coaches and the creation of the family feel of the club.…”

“…The present investigation is positioned across the second year of operation of the Severn Stars (a Superleague netball club in the UK) and builds on the findings of Navin et al (2020) who investigated the club's inaugural year. Navin et al (2020) conducted a Participatory and Appreciative Action and Reflection (PAAR, Ghaye et al, 2008) investigation focusing on how the overall leader's values were operationalized, reporting numerous positive leadership practices such as the Transformational behaviors (Bass & Riggio, 2006) of most coaches and the creation of the family feel of the club. However, Navin et al (2020) also reported that there were misconceptions between teams concerning their alignment to, and the visibility of, the organization's overarching vision and values -and suggested future investigations explored a broader range of club stakeholders to better explain these underpinning phenomena.…”

“…You're bringing together experienced, bright, intelligent people who really try hard … the glue is people and the relationship building. Navin et al (2020) reported that future research should investigate the dynamics underpinning the relationship between the two supporting universities of the Severn Stars including consideration of the perspective of senior leadership. The results of the present investigation show the senior leaders were keenly aware of the importance of strong partnership, and of some of the issues which might cause the types of friction to which Sarah alluded above.…”