APPROACHING PODCASTS AS A LEARNING TOOL FOR IMPROVING LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Authors

  • Andreea-Angela ȘEULEAN Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. E-mail: andreea.seulean@ubbcluj.ro. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5685-0682
  • Emilia GRIGORAȘ Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. E-mail: grigorasema@yahoo.com.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbnegotia.2025.4.04

Keywords:

team leadership, leadership competencies, leadership education, leadership, podcasts

Abstract

This article aims to analyze how team leadership competencies can be developed and optimized through a non-formal learning tool: podcasts. The study takes as its starting point the podcast series Teamology, which explores current topics related to team functioning, the role of the leader, decision-making, conflict management and adaptability in complex organizational contexts. In an era marked by uncertainty, remote work and cultural diversity, leaders need to adopt flexible practices and acquire accessible, applicable and authentic learning sources.

The paper starts from the premise that podcasts can become a valuable educational resource for developing leadership competencies, by exposing listeners to real experiences, diverse perspectives and concrete solutions. From a methodological viewpoint, the research is qualitative and is based on the content analysis of eight representative episodes of the Teamology series, selected on the basis of thematic criteria. The analysis aimed to extract and interpret the essential team leadership competencies, the strategies presented by the guests and how they can be applied in practice, within modern teams.

The results highlight that podcasts provide an authentic and accessible narrative framework that facilitates learning through reflection, emotional connection and immediate applicability. Recurring themes, such as clear communication, psychological safety, trust and distributed leadership, are presented in a practical, easy to understand and adaptable way to various contexts. The paper thus highlights the value of podcasts as a support in the formation of effective leaders and offers recommendations for their use in educational and organizational environments.

Article History: Received: July 15, 2025; Reviewed: November 25, 2025;
Accepted: December 8, 2025; Available online: December 18, 2025.

JEL classification: M12, M10.

References

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2022a, September 12). Introducere în performanța echipelor [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/introducere-in-performanta-echipelor/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2022b, October 18). Echipe antifragile [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/echipe-antifragile/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2022c, September 21). Rolul liderului și performanța individuală [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/rolul-liderului-si-performanta-individuala/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2022d, September 28). Diferența dintre un grup de lucru și o echipă [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/diferenta-dintre-un-grup-de-lucru-si-echipa/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2023a, October 10). Gestionarea constructivă

a conflictelor [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/gestionarea-constructiva-a-conflictelor/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2023b, October 27). Organizația ca echipă de echipe [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/organizatia-ca-echipa-de-echipe/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2023c, March 28). Practici pentru luarea deciziilor în echipă [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/practici-pentru-luarea-deciziilor-in-echipa/

Alexandru, C. & Răschip, R. (Hosts). (2023d, April 4). Practici pentru comunicarea în echipă; feedback-ul în echipă [Audio podcast episode]. In Teamology. Teamology Institute. https://teamology.ro/podcast/practici-pentru-comunicarea-in-echipa-feedback-ul-in-echipa/

Bell, B.S. & Kozlowski, S.W.J. (2002). A Typology of Virtual Teams: Implications for Effective Leadership. Group & Organization Management, 27(1), 14‒49. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601102027001003

Burke, C.S., Stagl, K.C., Klein, C., Goodwin, G.F., Salas, E. & Halpin, S. M. (2006). What type of leadership behaviors are functional in teams? A meta-analysis, The Leadership Quarterly, 17(3), 288–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2006.02.007

Edmondson, A.C. (2012). Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy. John Wiley & Sons.

Hackman, J.R. (2002). Leading teams: Setting the stage for great performances. Harvard Business Press.

Katzenbach, J.R. & Smith, D.K. (1992). The wisdom of teams: Creating the high-performance organization. Harvard Business Press.

Kozlowski, S.W.J. & Ilgen, D. R. (2006). Enhancing the Effectiveness of Work Groups and Teams. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 7(3), 77–124. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-1006.2006.00030.x

Lu, H. & Li, F. (2021). The Dual Effect of Transformational Leadership on Individual- and Team-Level Performance: The Mediational Roles of Motivational Processes, Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 606066. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.606066

Norsworthy, C. & Herndon, K. (2020). LEADING BY EAR: Podcasting as an Educational Leadership Tool, Journal of Leadership Education, 19(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.12806/V19/I3/A1

Northouse, P.G. (2022). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage.

Salas, E., Dickinson, T.L., Converse, S.A. & Tannenbaum, S.I. (1992). Toward an understanding of team performance and training. In R. W. Swezey, & E. Salas (Eds.), Teams: Their training and performance (3–29). Ablex Publishing.

Schultz, R.W. (2010). Exploring Leadership within the Modern Organization: Understanding the Dynamics of Effective Leadership of a Virtual, Multigenerational Workforce (Publication No. ED522556) [Doctoral dissertation, Capella University]. Capella University. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Stankov, I.E. (2007). Benefits and Limitations of Podcasts and Video Blogs as Instructional Media [Doctoral dissertation, Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt]. Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt. https://www.e-stankov.com/thesis-stankov.pdf

Taleb, N. N. (2012). Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder. Random House.

Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399.

Zaccaro, S.J., Rittman, A.L. & Marks, M. A. (2001). Team leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 12(4), 451‒483. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(01)00093-5

Downloads

Published

2025-12-18

How to Cite

ȘEULEAN, A.-A., & GRIGORAȘ, E. (2025). APPROACHING PODCASTS AS A LEARNING TOOL FOR IMPROVING LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Negotia, 70(4), 93–117. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbnegotia.2025.4.04

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.