Affiliation:
1. Centre for Applied Psychology and Performance, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of an identity leadership-framed reflective practice intervention on perceptions of leadership, social identity, and psychological safety in cricket. Building on previous evidence, an eight-week design included three intervention group coaches and their athletes (n = 32) and three control group coaches and their athletes (n = 34). Measurements of perceived coach identity leadership, social identity, and psychological safety were completed by cricket athletes at week 0 and week 8 for both groups. Intervention group coaches completed three identity leadership-framed reflective tasks in weeks one, three, and five, while the control group coaches continued their regular practices. Controlling for baseline scores, our analysis indicated that compared to the control group, the intervention group athletes reported significantly greater coach identity leadership behaviours, social identity, and psychological safety following the intervention. Social validation data highlighted shared identity, relationships, and learning as potential mechanisms for the positive results seen.
Reference61 articles.
1. Bishop, C. (2023, January 25). Cricket Report a Shocking Wakeup Call: This Is How All Sports Can Do Better. The Guardian 2023. Available online: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/17/cricket-report-a-shocking-wake-up-call-this-is-how-all-sports-can-do-better.
2. Haslam, S.A., Reicher, S., and Platow, M. (2020). The New Psychology of Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power, Routledge. [2nd ed.].
3. Haslam, S.A., Fransen, K., and Boen, F. (2020). Leadership. The New Psychology of Sport and Exercise: The Social Identity Approach, Sage.
4. Social identity leadership in sport and exercise: Current status and future directions;Stevens;Psychol. Sport Exerc.,2021
5. Improving identity leadership through a novel targeted reflective practice intervention;Brown;J. Appl. Sport Psychol.,2023