Which leadership style is characterized by focusing on serving athletes’ development and well-being?

• A. Transformational leadership
• B. Transactional leadership
• C. Servant leadership
• D. Autocratic leadership

Answer: (C)

Servant leadership is built on putting others' needs first and helping them grow. In sport settings, this means the leader prioritizes athletes’ development, welfare, and long-term well-being—listening to them, mentoring, providing resources, and creating a supportive, safe environment that enables athletes to reach their potential. This approach centers on service and stewardship rather than exercising power or pursuing personal gain, which is why it best describes focusing on athletes’ development and well-being.

Transformational leadership aims to inspire and elevate motivation, transactional leadership relies on rewards or punishments for performance, and autocratic leadership centers on centralized, directive control. These styles don’t specifically emphasize serving athletes’ development and well-being in the same way.