ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses small-group communication and how our diverse approaches to working in groups influence the overall ability of the small group and its leader to complete tasks and solve problems. Leadership is the ability to exert influence on a group by providing a sense of direction or vision. This influence can come from an individual designated as the leader or can be shared by several members of the group. Small groups are effective in solving problems because they arrive at better solutions and have more resources, and because the decision is more likely to be accepted by the larger whole. The trait perspective of leadership suggests that certain individuals are born leaders because they possess such qualities as a forceful personality, marked intelligence, and dynamic communication skills. A functional perspective of leadership focuses on the kinds of leadership behaviors that any member of the group can exhibit that collectively result in the group's making progress.
