Sustainable leadership in sport organizations: examining the role of relational reflexivity

Purpose: This study explores the role of relational reflexivity in sustainable leadership within sports management, focusing on the predominant reflexivity traits among sports management students.Design/Methodology/approach: The research examines four key dimensions of relational reflexivity: self-awareness, perspective-taking, communication, and conflict resolution.A sample of 146 sport management students completed a questionnaire assessing these dimensions, with the results analyzed using Friedman ANOVA and post hoc Wilcoxon signedrank tests.Findings: The acquired results revealed that conflict resolution (M = 5.86, SD = 1.20) and communication (M = 5.19, SD = 1.33) were the most prominent aspects, while self-awareness (M = 4.72, SD = 1.49) and perspective-taking (M = 4.73, SD = 1.46) received lower ratings.Post hoc analyses confirmed significant differences among dimensions, with conflict resolution rated significantly higher than self-awareness (p < .001)and perspective-taking (p = .002).These results suggest that students prioritize practical, outward-facing skills over introspective abilities, highlighting a potential gap in leadership education.Originality/value: The study underscores the importance of integrating self-awareness and perspective-taking into leadership training programs to develop well-rounded, ethically responsive leaders.By addressing these gaps, sports management education can better prepare students to navigate the complexities of team dynamics, stakeholder relationships, and sustainable decision-making in sports organizations.