Understanding the Origins of Shared Leadership

After defining leadership in a simple and concise manner, we can explore the concept of shared leadership in sports teams. Scientific literature has long focused on the coach as the primary leader of a team. Over time and through numerous studies, the scientific community has recognized that a coach's workload is already extensive. Therefore, it became interesting to examine how leadership could also be distributed among other leaders: the formal leaders.

In sports teams, formal leaders can be defined as follows: "A formal leader can be viewed as an individual who has been prescribed at that position by the organization (e.g., coach) or group (e.g., team elections)." (Loughead et al., 2006, p.143). In hockey, they are easily identifiable as they wear a letter on their jersey.

Research has continued to evolve, and an increasing number of studies acknowledge that team leadership is composed of both formal and informal leaders (Cotterill & Fransen, 2016). Hockey regulations limit the number of players who can wear a letter on their jersey. However, no rule restricts the number of leaders in a team. On the other side, informal leaders emerge at opportune moments.

To illustrate this, think about a time when you were at a neighborhood ice rink where everyone played individually. At some point, a player called everyone together to form two teams and start a match. A leader had just emerged!

Interestingly, Crozier et al. (2013) sought to determine the ideal number of leaders a team should have to optimize team dynamics. Their study found that 66% of a sports team's members should hold a leadership position. This result underscores the significance of shared leadership in a team context and confirms that leadership cannot be limited to formal leaders alone.

Shared Leadership

As research progressed, it leaned toward more collective forms of leadership. Once again, there is no scientific consensus on a single definition of shared leadership. However, Conger and Pearce (2003) define it as: "A dynamic, interactive influence process among individuals in groups for which the objective is to lead one another to the achievement of group or organizational goals or both." (p.1).

This definition offers a much more dynamic perspective on the phenomenon and highlights the interrelation of these dynamics.

Fransen's Model

To conceptualize and clearly define shared leadership within a sports team, Fransen et al. (2014) propose four leadership roles commonly found in teams. Recognizing these four roles may not be new, but these definitions provide terminology for observations you have likely made in the past (or even this season).

• Social Leader The social leader fosters team cohesion and ensures that all members feel included and valued. This individual creates a strong team culture, addresses conflicts, and builds positive relationships among teammates.
• Motivational Leader The motivational leader is the primary source of inspiration on the field; this person encourages teammates to push themselves to the limit, lifts up players who seem discouraged, and channels emotions in a way that energizes the team.
• Task Leader A task leader is responsible for maintaining focus on game objectives and assisting with strategic decisions. This individual provides tactical guidance during matches and suggests necessary adjustments to improve performance.
• External Leader The external leader acts as the team's representative to external stakeholders, such as management, sponsors, media, and parents. This person communicates essential messages from upper management to the players and ensures that the team's interests are well-represented.

Visually, this model illustrates how leadership is distributed within a team.

One of the most appealing aspects of this model is its applicability to both real and fictional teams. A perfect example is the team from Ted Lasso (you'll notice I often reference this cult series):

• Task Leader – Sam Obisanya is associated with this role because he embodies tactical excellence and inspires his teammates with his game intelligence and work ethic.
• Motivational Leader – Dani Rojas is a powerhouse of positive energy, using his contagious enthusiasm to lift team morale, especially with his famous phrase, "Football is life!"
• Social Leader – Ted Lasso fosters a supportive team environment by promoting interpersonal relationships, trust, and emotional support among players.
• External Leader – Roy Kent assumes this role by acting as a bridge between the team and the external environment (staff, media), defending players with his charisma and direct communication style.

Now it's your turn! Analyze your team and assign players to these roles, asking yourself why they fit each category.

In an upcoming article, we will explore how you can use this model to your advantage as a coach.

Sources :

Conger, J. A., & Pearce, C. L. (2003). A landscape of opportunities: Future research on shared leadership. In C. L. Pearce & J. A. Conger (Eds.), Shared leadership: Reframing the hows and whys of leadership (pp. 285-303). SAGE Publications.

Cotterill, S. T., & Fransen, K. (2016). Athlete leadership in sport teams: Current understanding and future directions. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 9(1), 116-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2015.1124443

Crozier, A. J., Loughead, T. M., & Munroe-Chandler, K. J. (2013). Examining the benefits of athlete leadership in sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 25(3), 283-296. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2012.751563

Fransen, K., Van Puyenbroeck, S., Loughead, T. M., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., & Boen, F. (2014). The impact of athlete leaders on team members' team outcome confidence: A test of mediation by team identification and collective efficacy. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 10(1), 4-21.

Loughead, T. M., Hardy, J., & Eys, M. A. (2006). The nature of athlete leadership. Journal of Sport Behavior, 29(2), 142-158.