Implicit leadership theories - A phenomenographic study within a sporting context

Generic leadership scholars have begun to analyse leadership from a perspective that focuses on the perceptions of observers and challenges the default position of leader-centric research. This observer-centric perspective is commonly referred to as the social construction of leadership; it is yet to be applied to a sport management context. By highlighting the role that followers’ ideal leadership prototypes play in the leadership construction processes, this study will improve the understanding of leadership perceptions in a sport context and indicate opportunities for sport leaders to develop a leadership style that is better tailored to their followers’ expectations.