A PATTERN APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF LEADER EMERGENCE

Past research on the emergence of leaders in groups has typically exam ined relationships between individual trait variables and emergence. T he current study extends work of the past by developing a multi-variab le pattern approach, along with the traditional examination of individ ual trait measures, in the domain of emergent leadership. The personal ity pattern examined in this study uses the variables dominance, intel ligence and general self-efficacy. All three trait variables were sign ificantly positively associated with leader emergence. Individuals hig h in all three traits (HHH) emerged significantly more frequently than all other individuals while those low in all three traits (LLL) emerg ed significantly less frequently than all other individuals. This stud y demonstrates that the pattern approach is useful in the study of eme rgent leadership. Implications for the future research in emergent lea dership are discussed.