Leadership in Sport Flashcards
Definition of leadership
An individual having an influence over the behaviour of others to motivate them to follow or set goals
OR
behavioural processes of influencing others towards set goals
What are the characteristics of a leader?
Good communication skills, knowledgeable, charisma, empathy, clear goal/vision, enthusiasm, motivation,
What are the two ways a leader can be selected?
Prescribed leader, emergent leader
What is a prescribed leader?
Appointed for by governing body/agency, selected from outside the group
What are the advantages of a prescribed leader?
More objective, fresh pair of eyes, potentially more creative strategies, may carry more authority
What are the disadvantages of a prescribed leader?
Not aware of team culture/ ways of working
What is an emergent leader?
Comes from within, due to skills/ability or through nomination
What are the advantages of an emergent leader?
-Readily accepted by the group, already formed relationships
-Knows the players and team dynamics
-Understands how different people communicate within the team
-Already shown their commitment/effort/ability/ proved themselves
-Wins over hearts and minds, due to being one of their own, not a potentially threatening outsider
What are the disadvantages of an emergent leader?
May lack objectivity, have prior friendships within the group
What is a sporting example of a prescribed leader?
A football team is struggling and therefore bring in a new strong leader to make tough decisions
What is a sporting example of a emergent leader?
An assistant manager from a football team becomes the manager
What are the two main types of leader?
Task orientated, person orientated
What are the two main types of leader?
Task orientated, person orientated
What is a task orientated leader?
Concerned with the task demands of the group
What is a person orientated leader?
Concerned with interpersonal behaviour of group members
What are the three types of leader?
Authoritarian (autocratic), Democratic, Laissez Faire
What is the characteristics/description of an autocratic leader?
Task orientated
Dictatorial - command approach
Makes all decisions
Inflexible
Shows little interest in individuals
Doesn’t get involved on a personal level
Focus on getting the job done rather than the process
Has clear, predetermined goals
Works quickly
What are the characteristics/description of a democratic leader?
Involve the members of the group in the task
Person orientated
Shares decisions
Works slower than an autocratic leader
Shows interest in the individuals in the group
Takes into account individuals preferences/ideas so goals are more changeable
Delegates responsibility
-Believes that ownership of the task increases motivation
What are the characteristics/description of a laissez faire leader?
Leader makes very few decisions
Group makes the decisions/ can do as they wish
Leader takes a back seat
Leader gives little feedback
Leader has very little direct influence on the group
When would an autocratic leader be beneficial?
Beginners
Large groups
Dangerous activity eg. rock climbing, javelin lesson
Complex task
Not much time available
Group wants an autocratic leader
Experts that trust their leader
Males
Hostile groups
When would an democratic leader be beneficial?
Individual or small groups
Teaching females as they prefer a democratic, more social approach
Task is not dangerous,afe and simple skills
Experts
No time pressure
Group that wants a democratic leader
When would an laissez faire leader be beneficial?
Effectively used when developing creativity
Elite performers, fully trusts group Assessing
Leader fully trusts group
Assessing what members or leader does not know
What are the three theories of leadership?
Trait theory, social learning theory, interactionsit theory
What is the trait theory of leadership?
Leaders are born not made which means it supports Great Man Theory
Traits are stable and enduring, generalised across situations
-However people in sport tent to be quite specific in their leadership skills
What does trait theory/perspective assume?
- Certain traits produce certain patterns of behaviour
- Patterns are consistent across situations
- People are born with these traits
Explain Social Learning Theory of Leadership?
We learn behaviour from observing and initiating significant others
Does not support the Great Man Theory that leaders are born
Does not consider inherited traits
Leadership characteristics are learnt not made
Stresses the importance of the environment
Explain Interactionist Theory of Leadership?
Supports the idea that inherited traits have an influence
But acknowledges the influence of the situations they find themselves in too
Traits and environment interact to influence leadership
Does interactionist theory support great man theory?
Partially
Does social learning theory support great man theory?
No
Does trait theory support great man theory?
Yes, leaders and made not born
Explain Fiedlers Contingency Theory
2 types of leadership - task orientated and person orientated
How effective these styles of leadership are depends on the favourableness of the situation, this depends on the leaders relationship with the rest of the group, structure of the task, leaders power and resources available
If the favourableness is most favourable or least favourable the leader is task-orientated
If the favourableness is moderately favourable the leader is person-orientated
Explain using the factors affecting favourableness what the most favourable circumstances are?
Autocratic/ task centred
Relationships are good
Task is clear and unambiguous
The leader is in a strong position of authority
Explain using the factors affecting favourableness what the least favourable circumstances are?
Autocratic/ task centred leader
Relationships are hostile
Task is unclear
Leader has no authority
Explain using the factors affecting favourableness what the moderately favourable circumstances are?
Democratic leader
Relationships are okay
Task is moderately clear
The leader has some authority
What are the 3 factors favourableness depends on?
The relationships between the leader and group members
The structure of the task/it’s difficult
The leaders perceived power/authority - how important the leader is perceived to be
What are the characteristics of a task orientated leader?
Concentrates on the job
Concerned with the end product
Pre-determined goal
All/most decisions
What are the characteristics of a person orientated leader?
More concerned with interpersonal relations
More democratic
Shares decision making
