Unlocking Excellence: How Ethical Leadership Fuels Performance in Sport Organizations

Abstract

This research examined the impact of ethical leadership on organizational performance in Ethiopian National Sports Federations, addressing a gap in non-Western, sports-specific contexts. Quantitative data from 296 administrators and qualitative data from 15 semi-structured interviews were examined using an embedded mixed-methods research design. The results of the quantitative method analyzed with a confidential level of 95% by using SPSS version 28 through quintile regression showed that leader integrity (β = 0.037, p = 0.027), fairness (β = 0.014, p = 0.010), and role modelling (β = 0.059, p = 0.043) positively impact organizational performance, with role modelling revealing the strongest result. Conversely, communication about ethics had a negative impact (β = -0.036, p = 0.012), signifying operation encounters. Qualitative results, derived through NVivo thematic analysis, acknowledged four themes: leader integrity fosters trust and collaboration, fairness increases morale, role modelling motivates performance quality, and communication about ethics can interrupt performance due to language fences. These themes supported the quantitative outcomes, underlying trust, confidence, and cultural hierarchy as instruments, while resource limitations and unsuccessful communication pose fences. Practical consequences comprise encouraging transparency, comprehensive decision-making, and tailored communication approaches to increase performance. Future investigation should examine regional differences and longitudinal impacts to support generalizability.