Shaw, Marvin E. The Psychology of Small Group Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971
The leadership role of a group is the most important part. Leadership has
been studied more than any other part of a group. For this reason there is so
many ways to define leadership that other people might have a different
definition than you.
In 1953 Carter had four different views of leadership. First, the leader
could be the one that everyone focuses on. This meaning that the leader would
be the one to talk the most and be the one to make the groups final decision.
Most of the time in a group the leader is the center of attention but not always. In
a setting where there is people socializing, who one would say the leader is could
be different from someone else.
Second, the leader is the one who helps the group towards the goals set
forth. This is one who keeps the group on track and keeps the meeting flowing.
Carter found that it is not always true because it is hard to find the goals of the
group.
Third, a leader could be someone chosen by the group to be the leader.
This is someone who the group would be the best for the position. Carter thinks
that this is only someone who has the leadership role but not what they know and
can do.
Fourth, in 1951 Cattell said that a leader is one who influences the group.
Really anyone in the group can be leader due to how they influence the other
group members. So in some groups there doesn't have to be a leader because
everyone puts all of the ideas together to influence each other. Now when
people take about the leader it means the person who has influenced the group
the most.
In my technology there always needs to be a leader. Like in a landscaping
company there is usually different teams of people. One does mowing another
team does the mulching and planting of plants and...