Transformational leadership and task cohesion in sport: The mediating role of intrateam communication

Citation

Smith MJ, Arthur CA, Hardy J, Callow N & Williams D (2013) Transformational leadership and task cohesion in sport: The mediating role of intrateam communication. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14 (2), pp. 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.10.002

Abstract
Objectives: Little is known about the mechanisms that might mediate the relationship between transformational leadership behaviors and follower outcomes in the sporting domain. The purpose of this study was to examine whether intrateam communication mediated the effects of transformational leadership behaviors on task cohesion. Design/Methods: A cross-sectional study of university level ultimate frisbee players (N = 199). Participants completed a measure assessing their perceptions of their captain's transformational leadership behaviors. Post-competition, participants completed measures assessing perceptions of intrateam communication and task cohesion within their own team. Results: Multilevel analyses revealed intrateam communication to partially mediate the relationships between two of the transformational leadership behaviors and task cohesion. Conclusions: Intrateam communication is seen to be a mechanism that explains the relationship between transformational leadership and task cohesion. Overall, the results support and add to the range of positive effects associated with transformational leadership in sport, and are suggestive of interventions that may raise levels of team cohesion.

Keywords
Communication; Cohesion; Sport; Leadership; Multilevel analyses

Journal
Psychology of Sport and Exercise: Volume 14, Issue 2