Defining Leadership for Innovation

Challenges and Opportunities in a Sports Organization

Abstract

While leadership was the initial focus of this case study, innovation emerged as a key theme, revealing how leadership fragmentation directly impedes organizational adaptability and innovation capacity. In contemporary sports organizations, defining leadership remains a persistent challenge, where diverse interpretations among executives shape decision-making, organizational culture, and innovation capacity. This study investigates the impact of leadership perceptions within the executive team of a prominent sports organization on strategic alignment, team cohesion, and the adoption of innovation-driven practices. Using contextual inquiry methodologies, including interviews, observational analysis, and leadership framework comparisons, the research identifies 63 distinct leadership attributes that highlight both commonalities and disparities in leadership conceptualization. Findings reveal that fragmented leadership definitions contribute to inconsistent decision-making, internal conflicts, and a lack of clarity in strategic direction, ultimately limiting the organization’s ability to foster innovation. Moreover, the absence of structured leadership development programs and formalized mentorship leaves emerging leaders unprepared, thereby further exacerbating leadership fragmentation and reducing the organization’s ability to adapt to technological advancements and evolving market demands. To drive innovation and sustain competitive advantage, this study underscores the need for a unified leadership framework that aligns executive practices, facilitates collaboration, and integrates leadership development as a core organizational priority.