Having explored the nature of shared leadership, my second research purpose lay in
understanding the role of shared leadership activities in team learning and thus
contributing to the literature on interrelations between leadership and team learning
(Berson et al., 2006; Burke et al., 2006; Edmondson, 1999). I have contributed to this
literature in two aspects: firstly, by researching interrelations between each of the three
leadership substances and team learning, I provide in-depth knowledge, in particular
concerning the link between the task and change substance affecting reflection and
action as these links have not been studied before (Edmondson et al., 2008). Relations
and change substance primarily support the reflection part of learning, whereas the task
substance of leadership basically enhances the action part of learning. Secondly, not
only did I study these three leadership categories on team learning individually, but I
also provided insights into the complementary character of these three leadership
substances as regards team learning. Empirical findings show that in order to engage in
successful learning cycles of reflection and action, a team needs to engage in leadership
activities of task, relations and change.