Leadership in Sport

• Leadership is defined as a behavioural process of influencing others towards set goals.
• A trait that leaders show is good communication.
• A trait that leaders show is charisma.
• A trait that leaders show is confidence.
• A trait that leaders show is they are knowledgeable.
• A trait that leaders show is they are motivated.
• Emergent leaders naturally arise from within the group to become the leader.
• Prescribed leaders are appointed or chosen by a higher authority.
• Autocratic Leadership:

  Task oriantated leadership

  Task completion is top priority

  Leader makes all the decisions

  Authoritarian

  Rarely gets involved personally with group members
• Autocratic leadership is effective in: high pressure environments; large groups; men; beginners; dangerous activities; hostile groups; and when discipline is needed.
• Democratic Leadership:

  Social orientated leadership

  Shows concern for people within the group

  Develops interpersonal relationships

  Leader shares decision making with the group

  Leader is informal, relaxed and active within the group

  Leader shows keen interest in various people within the group
• Democratic leadership is effective with: experts; females; plenty of time available; and safe activities.
• Laissez-Faire Leadership:

  Makes no decisions

  Leader has no direct influence

  Groups make decisions and completes task by themselves

  Leader is passive
• Laissez-Faire is effective with: elite athletes; to develop creativity; assessments; and when the leader fully trusts the group.
• One feature of trait perspective theory of leadership is leaders are usually born with certain personality traits and physical attributes that make them a natural leader.
• One feature of trait perspective theory of leadership is that leadership traits are stable and enduring, you will show the leadership traits in every scenario, this makes leadership behaviours persistant and predictable.
• One feature of trait perspective theory of leadership is that leadership traits such as confidence and charisma are pre-determined and innate.
• One feature of trait perspective theory of leadership is that it doesn't consider the environment to have any influence over leadership behaviours.
• One feature of trait perspective theory of leadership is it is related to the great man theory (Carlyle 1841) that said born leaders are usually male.
• One feature of trait perspective theory of leadership is leadership can be influenced positively or negatively by your innate personality characterisitics.
• An advantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is some leaders do show leadership traits all the time.
• An advantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is there is some evidence to suggest that leadership is influenced by genetics or innate characteristics.
• A disadvantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is there are good female leaders which the great man theory disagrees with.
• A disadvantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is situational factors and interaction with others can influence leadership behaviours,
• A disadvantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is leaders do not show leadership traits at all times.
• A disadvantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is it places too much emphasis on leadership traits being innate - some leadership characteristics can be learned.
• A disadvantage of trait perspective theory of leadership is that not all leadership traits are stable and predictable.
• A feature of social learning theory of leadership is that leaders learn to be leaders through watching and copying other leaders behaviour,
• A feature of social learning theory of leadership is leadership behaviour is modeled on or copied from significant others or role models who are successful or high profile leaders.
• A feature of social learning theory of leadership is watching leaders receive reinforcement makes that leadership behaviour more likely to be copied. This is known as vicarious reinforcement.
• A feature of social learning theory of leadership is you can learn how not to lead by watching an unsuccessful leader.
• A feature of social learning theory of leadership is it doesn't consider inborn trait to have any affect on leadership behaviours.
• An advantage of social learning theory of leadership is there is some evidence to suggest leaders can learn to be leaders by watching and copying other leaders behaviour.
• An advantage of social learning theory of leadership is we are more likely to copy leader behaviours from our role models.
• A disadvantage of social learning theory of leadership is not all people exposed to the same role model will lead in the same way proving that other factors influence how we develop leadership behaviours.
• A disadvantage of social learning theory of leadership is it ignores the importance of traits.
• A feature of interactionist theories of leadership is traits and the environment interact to influence leadership.
• A feature of interactionist theories of leadership is in sport you show inborn leadership traits because the situatuion demands it.
• A feature of interactionist theories of leadership is leaders are born with leadership qualities that are used in particular situations.
• An advantage of interactionist theories of leadership is this is the most realistic theory as it considers both trait and the environment's influence on leadership.