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Leadership in Action: Everyday Communication

AUTHOR:

Eli Waxler

Link to Resource

Transformational leadership is not limited to dramatic, high-stakes moments. It often emerges in small, everyday interactions: a coach checking in with an athlete after practice, a captain reinforcing shared team values in a casual conversation, or a teammate offering encouragement after a tough loss.

Importantly, leadership is not the sole domain of coaches. Peer leadership, especially from informal athlete leaders, plays a substantial role in shaping team culture. Research shows that athletes are highly responsive to motivational input from teammates, particularly when trust and shared identity are present (Fransen et al., 2014; Fransen et al., 2020). In fact, these informal leaders often have a greater influence on team functioning than formally appointed captains.

Implications for Coaches and Sport Leaders

To put transformational communication into everyday practice, sport leaders can consider the following strategies:

  • Communicate with clarity and purpose: A well-articulated vision helps align the team and sustain motivation.
  • Prioritize personal development alongside performance: Supporting athletes as individuals fosters deeper commitment and engagement.
  • Invite dialogue: Creating space for listening and reflection strengthens trust and connection.
  • Recognize effort, not just results: Acknowledging progress builds resilience and confidence.
  • Foster a shared team identity: Cultivating a sense of “us” can increase psychological safety and enhance both well-being and teamwork.

Conclusion

Leadership communication in sport is not simply about issuing direction, it’s about building relationships. Through the lens of transformational leadership, communication becomes a tool for supporting both performance and personal development. As sport increasingly integrates goals of performance and well-being, communication grounded in transformational principles, and supported by shared identity and psychological safety, can help athletes and teams not only succeed, but flourish.

References

Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational Leadership (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.

Fransen, K., McEwan, D., & Sarkar, M. (2020). The impact of identity leadership on team functioning and well-being in team sport: Is psychological safety the missing link? Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51, 101763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101763

Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., Vande Broek, G., & Boen, F. (2014). The myth of the team captain as principal leader: Extending the athlete leadership classification within sport teams. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(14), 1389–1397.

Price, M. S., & Weiss, M. R. (2013). Relationships among coach leadership, peer leadership, and adolescent athletes’ psychosocial and team outcomes: A test of transformational leadership theory. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 25(2), 265–279.

Vella, S., Oades, L., & Crowe, T. (2011). The role of the coach in facilitating positive youth development: Moving from theory to practice. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23(1), 33–48.