Leading Empowered Teams: An Examination of the Role of External Team Leaders and Team Coaches

Rapp, T.L., Gilson, L.L., Mathieu, J.E., & Ruddy, T. (2016). Leading empowered teams: An examination of the role of external team leaders and team coaches. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(1), 109-123.

Posted: 6 Aug 2018

See all articles by Tammy Rapp

Tammy Rapp

Ohio University

Lucy L. Gilson

University of Connecticut - Department of Management

John Mathieu

University of Connecticut - Department of Management

Thomas Ruddy

Independent

Date Written: February 1, 2016

Abstract

We examine the influence of two sources of team leadership – formally assigned external team leaders and team coaches, along with organizational and team-based human resource (HR) supports – on team empowerment, processes, and performance. Using survey measures and temporally lagged objective performance indices from 70 service teams and applying structural equation modeling, the results indicate that coaches significantly influence team empowerment, and thereby team processes and performance whereas external team leaders do not. Findings also indicate that HR and organizational supports relate positively to team empowerment and that the effect of coaches on empowerment is beyond the effects of HR and organizational supports, team interdependence, and external team leaders. Directions for future research and application are discussed in terms of using team coaches in addition to traditional leaders for teams adopting new work arrangements.

Suggested Citation

Rapp, Tammy and Gilson, Lucy L. and Mathieu, John and Ruddy, Thomas, Leading Empowered Teams: An Examination of the Role of External Team Leaders and Team Coaches (February 1, 2016). Rapp, T.L., Gilson, L.L., Mathieu, J.E., & Ruddy, T. (2016). Leading empowered teams: An examination of the role of external team leaders and team coaches. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(1), 109-123., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3213546

Tammy Rapp (Contact Author)

Ohio University ( email )

Athens, OH 45701-2979
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://business.ohio.edu/about/faculty-staff/rapp-tammy/

Lucy L. Gilson

University of Connecticut - Department of Management ( email )

Storrs, CT 06269-1041
United States

John Mathieu

University of Connecticut - Department of Management ( email )

Storrs, CT 06269-1041
United States

Thomas Ruddy

Independent

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
521
PlumX Metrics