Transformational leadership behaviour and group cohesion values in the outdoor recreation program among Sports Science and Recreation students / Siti Sarah Khairul Anuar and Ahmad Fikri Mohd Kassim

This study aims to explore the relationship between transformational leadership behavior and group cohesion values in the outdoor recreation program curriculum among Sport Science and Recreation students. The four main components are employed to define the idea and style of transformational leadership: idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and individual consideration. A transformative leader must exhibit idealized influence by demonstrating exemplary behavior. It is vital that leaders provide inspirational motivation to encourage followers to be committed to the organization's objectives. Moreover, intellectual stimulation involves fostering innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Individualized consideration entails the leader addressing the unique needs of each follower, acting as a mentor or coach. Group cohesion pertains to the affirmative connection and feeling of inclusion among the group members. It transcends mere relational dynamics, encompassing a nurturing and supportive group atmosphere, empathetic comprehension, and acknowledgment. A total of 230 participants (120 male and 110 female) volunteered and completed the questionnaire. The survey employed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) 5x-short and the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) to assess the elements affecting transformational leadership and the significance of group cohesion in the research. The findings demonstrated a significant correlation between (i) the factors of transformational leadership (such as idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and individual consideration) and individual attraction to the group task (ATG-T), (ii) the factors of transformational leadership and group integration task (GI-T), and (iii) transformational leadership with ATG-T and GI-T. In summary, the potential of transformational leadership to improve the coherence of groups involved in outdoor recreation educational activities is remarkable. By employing transformational leadership, individuals holding leadership roles are empowered to effectively promote and encourage cooperation towards a common objective, thus fostering a sense of unity and cooperation among group members.