ABSTRACT
Leadership may be displayed by any member of a group at any time during the group's life. Much that happens in groups revolves around issues of authority, power and control. Social workers in statutory agencies have certain formal authority which derives from their role, professional authority which stems from their training and skill, and personal authority which emanates from their personality. Choice of co-workers is a crucial decision which can determine whether or not a group is successful. Most of the potential benefits for group members arise from having two workers with distinctive characteristics who, in combination, can offer the group and each individual member more than either would be able to alone. Leadership skills in groups are more diverse and manifold than those involved when working with an individual. The subject of self-disclosure in groupwork and in other social work methods has not received much attention in the literature or on training courses.
