This module focuses on leadership within highly dynamic sports organizations and units involved in sports marketing and sponsorship. It covers key leadership functions (e.g., executive management, sports directorate, sponsorship management, project management) and relevant leadership concepts. Students also explore the impact of personal leadership style and the influence of organizational structures and culture, including hybrid forms combining club logic and corporate governance. The course examines typical team dynamics, value systems, and loyalty structures in sports organizations, particularly clubs and federations. Essential leadership skills such as change management, crisis handling, and coping with setbacks in sports contexts are also addressed.
- Apply leadership concepts to the challenges of sports-related organizations and derive practical recommendations
- Develop, critically reflect on, and contextualize leadership behavior in sports using theoretical frameworks and personal experience
- Systematically analyze organizational structures and team processes in sports organizations to enhance leadership effectiveness
- Design effective leadership approaches and change strategies for sports organizations, including planning and evaluating interventions to influence organizational dynamics
Hon. Prof. Dr. Michael Groß
Hon. Prof. Dr. Michael Groß is best known as an Olympic swim champion. Today, he advises companies on change management and talent management, for example, through executive training programs. He maintains diverse ties to sports, not only through his consulting work but also through volunteer efforts, such as his former role as a board member of Deutsche Sporthilfe. Groß is an honorary professor at Goethe University, where he teaches courses on organization and leadership in the digital age. Furthermore, he is the author of several professional books, including “Digital Leader Gamebook” and “KI-Revolution der Arbeitswelt.”