A qualitative and quantitative analysis of verbal style and the elimination of potential leaders in small groups

Abstract

This qualitative and quantitative analysis of conversations in small groups is a description of verbal style and its relationship to the process of leader elimination. Judgments about leadership potential were made on the basis of ethos evaluation which was affected by how group members adhered to the community norms for style and content. Individuals were eliminated as potential leaders if the interaction of their style and content created the impression that they did not contribute any ideas for the group task and they did not help to organize the group.

Key concepts:

• Verbal style
• leadership
• small group discussion
• small group norms
• leadership emergence
• ethos