The leadership of high-performance directors in the governance structure of Danish elite sport

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of high-performance directors (HPDs) as leaders and how governance affects their decision-making process. This qualitative study consists of nine semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019-2020 with HPDs and other key personnel in Danish elite sport. The inter-organisational relationship between national sport organisations and Team Danmark, Denmark's national high-performance sport organisation, constitutes a valuable research context to examine governance and leadership in elite sport. The analysis of the empirical research shows that HPDs in Danish elite sport lead in a context that provides both restrictions and opportunities. The organisational structure provides HPDs with opportunities but, at the same time, restricts the overall framework for HPDs as leaders, illustrating how leadership and governance are interconnected.