Group Size and Structure
Completion requirements
This article discusses three types of leadership styles. What kind of leader do you prefer – democratic, authoritarian, or laissez-faire? What kind of leader will you be when you have an analytic team to manage?
The article also delves into the psychology of teams. Conformity is the enemy of imagination. The need for conformity of thought can devolve into groupthink or a situation when the lowest common denominator of thought prevails. This environment stifles creativity and diversity and causes teams to concentrate on getting a job done, not doing it in the most innovative ways.
Glossary
authoritarian leader
- a leader who issues orders and assigns tasks
conformity
- the extent to which an individual complies with group or societal norms
democratic leader
- a leader who encourages group participation and consensus-building before moving into action
dyad
- a two-member group
expressive leader
- a leader who is concerned with process and with ensuring everyone's emotional wellbeing
instrumental leader
- a leader who is goal oriented with a primary focus on accomplishing tasks
laissez-faire leader
- a hands-off leader who allows members of the group to make their own decisions
leadership function
- the main focus or goal of a leader
leadership style
- the style a leader uses to achieve goals or elicit action from group members
triad
- a three-member group