ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the role of the leader in group work. Traditional leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, and laissez-faire) and the impact of the styles on various group dynamics are discussed. Group leader functions, which include caring, meaning attribution, executive functioning and use of self, are outlined. Last, a holistic approach is taken to provide an overview of specific leadership skills and therapeutic factors that are important to effective group facilitation. Some examples of these elements include empathy, genuineness, confrontation, universality, cohesion, and catharsis.
