The importance of ildsjeler: a fieldwork study of inclusive leadership and subjective social mobility in sport

Abstract

Purpose

While it has been argued that sport organizations are a socially integrative factor in societies, research on sport and social inclusion is short on the role of leadership. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the degree to which inclusive leadership enables social mobility for participants in a social inclusion program through sport.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a fieldwork study composed of focused, multi-sited and collaborative ethnography principles. It draws upon data from four sport clubs that are members of the Norwegian Equestrian Federation (NEF) and associated with a social inclusion program for people with a history of substance abuse disorders (SUD).

Findings

Through the enabling of participants’ agency capabilities through prototypicality, shared leadership and cognitive efforts, incentives for utilizing inclusive leadership are presented. The study also presents perspectives on social mobility that are less prone to inflexible categorization and more attuned to people’s sense of belonging and identities.

Originality/value

By coupling unique fieldwork data with theories on subjective social mobility, leadership and meaningfulness, the study presents novel insights into how inclusive leadership play a pivotal role in empowering people with SUD to enhance their social mobility capabilities.

Citation

Svendsen, M. and Næss, H.E. (2025), "The importance of ildsjeler: a fieldwork study of inclusive leadership and subjective social mobility in sport", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-04-2024-0185