ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the complicated task of defining leadership given the context of performing teams. It discusses the common misunderstandings regarding leadership. The chapter presents some of the classic leadership theories and models with a critique of their strengths and weaknesses. Managers, executives, executive coaches, psychologists, researchers, administrators, military officers, athletic coaches, trainers and teachers all claim expertise in the process of leadership. There are numerous theoretical approaches to leadership including personality, behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic and humanistic perspectives. Contingency approaches examine how leadership style is best matched to followers or situations. Originally formulated by P. Chelladurai the Multidimensional Model of Leadership has received the greatest amount of attention from sport leadership researchers. The nature of leadership and the many perspectives on its development provide a fairly complex task of measurement. There are a number of team dynamics and communication exercises that can be adapted to develop team leadership.
