Transformational Leadership and Task Cohesion in Sport: The Mediating Role of inside Sacrifice

Abstract

In this cross-sectional study, we examined a mediational model whereby transformational leadership is related to task cohesion via sacrifice. Participants were 381 American (Mage = 19.87 years, SD = 1.41) Division I university athletes (188 males, 193 females) who competed in a variety of sports. Participants completed measures of coach transformational leadership, personal and teammate inside sacrifice, and task cohesion. After conducting multilevel mediation analysis, we found that both personal and teammate inside sacrifice significantly mediated the relationships between transformational leadership behaviors and task cohesion. However, there were differential patterns of these relationships for male and female athletes. Interpretation of the results highlights that coaches should endeavor to display transformational leadership behaviors as they are related to personal and teammate inside sacrifices and task cohesion.

An Examination of Leadership Theories in Business and Sport Achievement Contexts

“…Moreover, Cronin, Arthur, Hardy, and Callow (2015) found a positive relationship between transformational leadership and organizational citizenship, and an increase in players making more sacrifices for their team (similar results as compared to employee sacrifice in Effelsberg et al (2014) study), as a result of transformational leadership behaviors exhibited a by coaches.…”

Big Hitters: Important Factors Characterizing Team Effectiveness in Professional Cricket

“…Interestingly, a recent review of conflict in sport suggested that male athletes appeared to engage in more conflict behaviors and communication with their coaches than female athletes (Wachsmuth et al, 2017). Although, there is scant research regarding psychological differences between male and female sports teams (Cronin et al, 2015), Eys et al (2015) found males to be more open with one another than females, particularly in relation to expressing and resolving conflicts. Taken together, these results point toward an underlying difference in the interdependence of males and females that requires further research.…”

Transformational Leadership in Elite Sport: A Qualitative Analysis of Effective Leadership Behaviors in Cricket

“…This measure was validated using a sporting sample and has been used in a number of studies that 84 have examined transformational leadership in a sporting domain (e.g., Arthur, Woodman, Ong, Hardy, & Callow, 2015). The DTLI has consistently demonstrated good psychometric properties 87 and, as it is a more differentiated model, allows for a more detailed examination of specific 88 leadership behaviors.…”