Examining the Role of Paradoxical Leadership in Sports Club Management and Its Impact on Enhancing the Civil and Ethical Responsibility of Managers and Coaches

The increasing complexity of managing sports clubs necessitates innovative leadership approaches to address multifaceted challenges. This study investigates the critical role of paradoxical leadership—a dual-focused style that integrates seemingly contradictory behaviors—in enhancing the civil and ethical responsibility of managers and coaches within sports organizations. The objective is to examine how paradoxical leadership influences ethical conduct and social responsibility in sports management. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from a representative sample of sports club managers and coaches using validated instruments. Statistical analyses including Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to test the hypothesized relationships. The results reveal that paradoxical leadership significantly promotes both civil responsibility and ethical behavior, fostering a positive organizational climate and accountability. These findings underscore the importance of leadership adaptability and cognitive complexity in navigating ethical dilemmas in sports contexts. The study contributes novel insights by empirically validating the impact of paradoxical leadership in the sports sector, providing practical implications for leadership development programs. Implementing paradoxical leadership strategies can thus serve as an effective means of bolstering moral standards and social responsibility in sports management, ultimately improving stakeholder trust and organizational sustainability.