Women Occupying Management Positions in Top-Level Sport Organizations: A Self-Determination Perspective

Abstract

Título: Mujeres que ocupan cargos de gestión en organizaciones deportivas de primer nivel: una perspectiva desde la autodeterminación. Resumen: Bajo el marco teórico de la Teoría de la Autodeterminación (SDT), el propósito del presente estudio fue investigar si el entorno laboral de mujeres que ocupaban cargos directivos en el deporte era de satisfacción o frustración de las necesidades psicológicas básicas (BPN), y explorar sus motivaciones en estas posiciones. Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a ocho directivas de organizaciones deportivas de primer nivel. Los resultados mostraron que siete de ellas reportaron estar en un entorno de satisfacción de las BPN y experimentaban motivación autónoma en su trabajo. Por el contrario, una participante reportó trabajar en un contexto de frustración de las BPN y experimentaba motivación controlada. Presentamos los antecedentes contextuales expuestos por las directivas que consideramos de satisfacción o frustración de sus BPN. Asumiendo que la satisfacción de las BPN está relacionada con la motivación autónoma y el bienestar, el presente trabajo proporciona una primera aproximación sobre cómo las organizaciones deportivas podrían promover la satisfacción de las BPN de las directivas y aumentar así su motivación autónoma y bienestar en el cargo. Palabras clave: directivas; motivación; necesidades psicológicas básicas; género; organizaciones deportivas; análisis cualitativo.Abstract: Framed in Self-determination theory (SDT), the purpose of this research was to examine whether the working environment of women in sport management positions could fulfil or thwart their basic psychological needs (BPN) and to explore the motivations that women managers experience in these positions. Eight female managers of top-level sport organizations participated in semi-structured interviews. Results showed that seven of them reported being in an environment that fulfilled their BPN and experienced autonomous motivation in their job. In contrast, one participant reported working in a context that thwarted her BPN and experienced controlled motivation. We present contextual antecedents that were considered satisfying or thwarting of the BPN of those women enrolled in management positions. Insomuch as BPN satisfaction is expected to be related to autonomous motivation and well-being, the current study provides a first insight regarding how sport organizations could promote women managers' BPN satisfaction and thus increase their autonomous motivation and well-being in such positions.

Common demanding conditions among professional high-level military and sport leaders: a cross-contextual qualitative reflexive thematic analysis

“…Although this theme affects male leaders, the fact that it is pervasive among female leaders, as also found by previous research (Pfister & Radtke, 2009), here seen in both contexts, is worrying, especially due to perceived loneliness, vulnerability, shock reactions, lack of sleep, and weight loss. Similar to earlier research (Perez-Rivases et al, 2017), these reactions seem to be worsened by the experience of being blocked and diminished in the leader role. Being exposed to bad work relations as a leader coupled with tense organisational situations is a severe stress problem, or not to say, a mental health issue.…”

“…Other demanding conditions are conflicts and power struggles. In particular, high-level female leaders can suffer considerably from such conditions and be hindered in access and career advancement sometimes by adverse reactions from male colleagues (Pfister & Radtke, 2009) and being ignored, discriminated and combated against their organisational change initiatives (Perez-Rivases et al, 2017). As Adriaanse (2019) expresses, in the long run, this lack of gender equality in leadership can prevent the organization from utilizing its potential to the fullest.…”

The Influence of Basic Psychological Needs and Passion in Promoting Elite Young Football Players’ Development

“…According to our results, to feel loved, valued, and connected with significant others in a passionate activity influences the quality of the cognitive process. In this sense, the importance of relatedness satisfaction as a strong predictor of positive intrapersonal outcomes (i.e., positive affect or subjective vitality) has been stated in past research (Alcaraz et al, 2015;Perez-Rivases et al, 2017).…”

A “toxic culture”: the experiences of underrepresented ticket sales employees across professional sport

“…Strong interpersonal relationships with supervisors or mentors and access to professional development activities have been found to aid in the career development of senior-level female administrators (Hancock and Hums, 2016). The working environment can also have an impact on overall motivations and job satisfaction of female sport managers (Perez-Rivases et al, 2017). In their study of female sales managers' experiences across professional sport organizations, Sattler et al (2018) found just over half (61.4%) of female sales managers could identify a workplace mentor, and of that, less than a third (29.7%) identified having another woman as their mentor.…”