摘要：The relationship between perceived leadership and the level of outonomy in a team context remains a contemporary theme in the work environment and seemingly has a substantial influence on organisational success. This study attempted to ascertain the relationship between leadership and the level of outonomy in a team context. Two hundred and thirty (N=230) individuals, grouped into 56 teams from four South African companies participated in the study. The superordinate’s leadership style as well as the level of outonomy in the specific group was measured. Apart from the useful information obtained in comparison with international research, especially in terms of leadership data, the study did conclusively point out a significant correlation between leadership style and autonomy in team context. Opsomming Leierskap en selfgerigte spanfunksionering bly kontemporêre temas in die bedryfsmilieu, wat oënskynlik organisasiesukses wesenlik kan beïnvloed. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die waargenome verband tussen leierskap en die vlak van outonomie binne spanverband te bepaal. Tweehondered-en-dertig (N=230) individue, gegroepeer in 56 spanne vanuit vier Suid-Afrikaanse maatksappye het aan die studie deelgeneem. ‘n Meting van sowel die bogeskikte se leierskapstyl en die vlak van outonomie binne spanverband is verkry. Afgesien van bruikbare inligting rondom veral die leierskapdata in vergelyking met internasionale navorsing, het die studie ‘n beduidende verband tussen leierskapstyl en outonomie binne spanverband uitgewys.
