The word ‘role’ refers to how a person will behave and what function they will perform within the group.

Group roles are not necessarily static – people may adopt different roles at different times during the group’s life-cycle.  The role of the leader or facilitator will change and evolve as group dynamics change over time.

The term ‘facilitator’ is sometimes used rather than leader, because the role is often not so much one of directing, than enabling the group to achieve its aims.  In many groups, the leader may eventually take a back seat, handing over the leadership role to other members of the group.

There are many different theories of leadership and people have tried to describe leaders in different ways.  White & Lippett identified three styles of leadership: autocratic; democratic; and laissez-faire in 1960, these styles are still used today to define different leader types.  Different styles of leadership may be appropriate at different stages in a group’s development. Different people with different personalities will adopt different leadership styles – some may be more appropriate than others at any given time.   Leaders may change their style and/or adapt a style that encompasses more than one of the styles listed here:

Autocratic

The Autocratic leader takes full control of the group and dictates what will happen – the direction of the group and the steps needed to complete the aims and objectives.  Autocratic leaders tend to praise and criticize individuals with the group, rather than the group.  Although very much in control of the direction of the group the autocratic leader will tend to distance themselves from the actual work of the group after having told the group what to do.

Democratic

The Democratic leader runs the group as a democracy, giving choice whenever possible and appropriate.  The democratic leader will allow group members to decide how they wish to work in order to best complete the aims and objectives of the group.  The democratic leader is more likely to be present in the group, offering advice and alternative ways of accomplishing a task when appropriate.

Laissez-Faire

The Laissez-Faire leader is very laid back in their approach.  Laissez-Faire leaders give complete freedom to individual and group decisions and rarely make suggestions or attempt to direct the group in any way.  Although happy to help with advice and supply information the lasses-faire leader will only do so when asked.  It could be argued that the laissez-faire leader does not lead at all, in the traditional sense of the word, they are often a figure-head with expert knowledge that can be called upon if needed by the group.

Fred Fiedler developed the Contingency Theory of Leadership in 1967, suggesting that when a group situation is highly favorable or unfavorable to the leader a task-oriented approach is more effective. When a group situation is only moderately favorable to the leader then a relationship-oriented style is more appropriate.

There are two basic types of task leadership and group maintenance leadership:

• Task Leadership Roles usually include giving and seeking information from the group, asking the opinions of all group members, keeping the group energised, evaluating performance and giving direction to the group.
• Maintenance Leadership Roles usually include encouraging engagement of group members, relieving any tensions that form within the group, building rapport, trust and respect, resolving conflict and drawing people into the group – increasing cohesiveness.

Groups often require both types of leadership, as individuals within the group tend to fall into one of the two categories; i.e.they are either more task or relationship (maintenance) orientated. Some leadership roles may need to be taken by other members of the group in order to compensate for this mismatch in psychology.