Abstract

Many studies have in the past assessed the predictors of team success and the enhancers of team effectiveness. However, very few studies have sought to assess how leadership styles and behaviors impact team effectiveness. This paper seeks to evaluate whether there any relationship exists between leadership behaviors and team effectiveness and performance. More specifically, the research will focus on servant leadership and whether it can be deemed a predictor of effectiveness at the team level. Towards this end, findings from a study of more than 400 participants drawn from the U.S. division of a multinational corporation will be presented. It is important to note that the corporation in question has a well-defined reputation of utilizing team-based structures in the advancement of its organizational objectives. In this case, participants took the following instruments: a questionnaire on team effectiveness, an assessment instrument on servant leadership, and an organizational leadership assessment. To assess the relationship between servant leadership (and associated variables), and team effectiveness, Pearson r correlation analysis was utilized. In the end, a positive correlation that could be deemed statistically significant was found between team effectiveness and servant leadership. These findings were used as the basis for the advancement of a discussion on the need for further inquiry on how leadership behaviors impact team performance.