Understanding flourishing in elite sport and other high-performance working environments

The aim of this thesis was to adopt a socio-ecological approach to provide an understanding of how flourishing is promoted in elite sport working environments and in life. To achieve this aim, four objectives were sought, first, to provide conceptual clarity regarding the extant flourishing literature, considering theoretical approaches used, terms adopted, and associated concepts. Second, to review the existing literature examining flourishing for those individuals operating in elite sport environments, encompassing athletes, coaches, and support staff. Third, to explore how leaders within elite sport and other high-performance working environments perceive they influence the flourishing of their followers. Fourth, to develop and test a socio-ecological model of flourishing in the high-performance working environment of elite sport and flourishing in life. In Chapter 2, I provided conceptual clarity regarding the concept of flourishing and proposed a socio-ecological framework of flourishing in high performance working environments (such as elite sport) and flourishing in life. In Chapter 3 (Study 1), I conducted a narrative review examining flourishing of individuals operating in elite sport environments. Findings emphasised the importance of considering multiple levels of the socio-ecological model (i.e., individual, interpersonal, and organisational), the individuals operating within these environments (e.g., athletes, coaches, support staff), and those who impact across its levels (e.g., people in leadership roles). In Chapter 4 (Study 2), I considered how leaders influence the flourishing of followers. Interviews with twenty-one leaders and two leadership consultants from high-performance working environments (elite sport and business) highlighted the importance of interpersonal and organisational level factors in relation to the socio-ecological model: leadership approaches, trust development, support leaders provide, and the empowering environment leaders’ foster. In Chapter 5 (Study 3), I sought to better understand the promotion of flourishing in elite sport and life, focusing upon the follower experience (e.g., athletes, coaches, and, support staff). Informed by Chapters 2, 3, and 4, I proposed and tested a socio-ecological model of flourishing in the high-performance working environment of elite sport and flourishing in life. Moderated mediation analysis results showed that for those working in elite sport, a high level of job satisfaction supports increased flourishing in life through its positive effects upon work engagement, and that the level of trust reliance in a leader, moderated the positive relationship between job satisfaction and work engagement. In Chapter 6, I concluded the programme of research with a consideration of the findings from all Chapters in relation to the thesis aim and objectives. Limitations of the thesis are discussed together with future areas for research into flourishing in elite sport working environments, and applied implications for those in leadership roles to support all people operating in elite sport to flourishing at work and in life. Through this systematic programme of research, I have advanced knowledge as a result of; enhanced conceptual clarity regarding flourishing and its related terms; the development of a conceptual base from which future flourishing research in elite sport can be built; the proposal of core leadership approaches to optimise follower flourishing experiences; the creation of the first socio-ecological model of flourishing in the high-performance working environment of elite sport and in life; and, the identification of areas of flourishing research requiring further attention in elite sport working environments.