Transformational leadership and perceived performance of taekwondo athletes: Leader trust as a mediator

Transformational leadership has received considerable research attention across various contexts. However, further investigation of this leadership style is required within the unique context of university taekwondo teams. This study investigated the effect of transformational leadership on leader trust and perceived performance within university taekwondo teams in South Korea. Analysis of 219 survey responses through structural equation modeling showed a positive influence of transformational leadership on both leader trust and perceived performance. Leader trust acted as a partial mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and perceived performance. This study highlights the importance of leader trust in enhancing athlete performance. The implications of transformational leadership are discussed in this context.