The Impact of Leadership in Times of a Pandemic on the Performance of Commercial Teams: Study of the Tourism Sector in Portugal

Leadership is a subject that organizations have special interest, since it increases their employee’s performance. This investigation analyzes leadership and its influence on an individual sales team and collective performance, within the tourism sector in Portugal. Quantitative research was carried out based on a sample of 380 employees, located in Portugal, working in the tourism sector, whom which a questionnaire was applied. The data analysis used three statistical approaches: (i) the classic approach, with a descriptive analysis of the various variables (sociodemographic and perception); (ii) structured equation analysis to confirm the conceptual model; and (iii) correlational and comparison analysis (ANOVA) with the aim of understanding the relationship between observed variables (assessing perceptions). The results of this research study showed that the skills factors that best explain “leadership” are “abilities” and “attitudes” and the commitment factor is “motivation.” The factor with the biggest weight in behavioral performance is “attitude” and in performance of results is “customer satisfaction.”