Between eudaemonia and exhaustion: how emotional management challenges impact leaders in nonprofit sport

Purpose This study investigates how the emotional challenges associated with their roles impact the leadership practice of nonprofit sport leaders. As such, it fills a gap in the literature, as emotional management in the context of nonprofit sport leadership remains underexplored, despite increasing expectations for leaders to engage emotionally and authentically with stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach An abductive approach was deployed, drawing on qualitative interviews (N = 22) and an online qualitative survey (N = 26) collected from an international sample of leaders in nonprofit sport organizations. Findings The study provides qualitative insights into the strategies employed by leaders to navigate the emotional challenges inherent in leadership roles. It highlights how leaders derive motivation from their achievements and view setbacks as opportunities for learning during challenging periods. The study identifies several thematic similarities among leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds and elucidates how the societal context of nonprofit sports influences these demands. Furthermore, it explores how leaders can utilize these situations to facilitate change and progress. Originality/value These findings advance the integration of Organizational Behaviour and sport management by elucidating a conceptual model for emotional self-regulation in nonprofit organizations.