Team Organization LO17096

John Cremer (jccremer@epix.net)
Thu, 19 Feb 1998 08:22:35 -0500

Replying to LO17051 --

Rol Fesseden wrote: "I agree, I have never seen a team that had no
leaders at all"

Rol:

Ditto to that. I find it helpful to view leadership as a function
that takes place in every team. The function may reside in one person, it
may shift between people, or it may be shared. Two forms manifest
themselves: 1. Task leadership which involves actions that facilitate the
accomplishment of the task itself, and 2. Maintenance leadership which
deals with the interpersonal dynamics of the group.

I also find that there is some predictability in where these
leadership functions settle by looking at the notion of "Power". There is
position power (Title, rank, connections, etc.) that is bestowed on a
person by the organization or society. Then there is personal power
(Expert knowledge, information, charisma, etc.) that is brought to the
group by individuals. The quality of leadership may vary considerably,
but it always appears - and often not in the "appointed" or "formal"
leader. This can lead to team difficulties and a leadership struggle.

Perhaps my views on the subject are overly simple, but in working
with teams for many years now, I have yet to find that they do not fit.

John Cremer
jccremer@epix.net

-- 

John Cremer <jccremer@epix.net>

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