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More Than Words: Transformational Communication in Sport

AUTHOR:

Eli Waxler

Link to Resource

In sport, leadership is often assessed through visible outcomes, victories, rankings, or championship titles. Yet, behind every high-performing team lies a less visible, but equally critical factor: how leaders communicate. Leadership communication extends beyond giving direction or delivering motivational speeches; it helps create trust, foster connection, and support the development of each athlete.

Transformational leadership, a model grounded in organizational psychology and increasingly applied in sport and positive psychology, offers a compelling framework for understanding how communication can move beyond instruction and toward inspiration. This leadership style not only drives performance but also supports athletes’ well-being and personal growth.

Understanding Transformational Leadership in Sport

Transformational leadership is characterized by four interrelated components: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration (Bass & Riggio, 2006). Within sport, these dimensions reflect interpersonal behaviors that build trust, shared purpose, and psychological safety.

  • Idealized Influence: Demonstrating values and behaviors that serve as a role model for others.
  • Inspirational Motivation: Articulating a vision that is compelling, meaningful, and energizing.
  • Intellectual Stimulation: Encouraging athletes to think independently, solve problems, and adapt creatively.
  • Individualized Consideration: Attending to athletes’ unique needs, experiences, and potential.

Empirical research confirms that coaches who exhibit transformational leadership behaviors are more likely to positively influence athlete motivation, team commitment, and personal development (Vella et al., 2011; Price & Weiss, 2013).

Communication That Empowers

Transformational leadership is closely aligned with principles from positive psychology, especially those emphasizing strengths, meaning, and optimal functioning. Through this lens, communication becomes a means for helping athletes thrive, not just perform.

When leaders communicate in ways that affirm effort, validate emotion, and reinforce progress, they help satisfy athletes’ core psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, as proposed by Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000). These needs are essential for fostering intrinsic motivation and sustained well-being.

Recent research also emphasizes the importance of psychological safety in team settings. When athletes feel safe to express themselves, take interpersonal risks, and offer input without fear of embarrassment or punishment, they are more likely to engage fully and adapt constructively (Fransen et al., 2020). In team sport, this sense of safety is strongly influenced by leaders who cultivate a shared team identity, a “we” rather than “me” mindset, which supports both performance and psychological health.

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.