Infant Leadership

Leadership is perceived to be derived or developed from a range of situations. However, little literature has devoted attention to the development and later influence of leadership amongst infants. This working paper develops initial perceptions identified in the observation of a group of three year-olds, taken over the period of two-and-a-half years. It was identified that a natural leader developed from the group, together with a deputy leader, adviser, followers and a group outcast. Yet this was not in any organisational setting amongst adults. The setting was that of a nursery, with roles appearing by the age of one. These roles were then held throughout the period of observation. If this demonstration of leadership and other roles are carried through into later life, then by the age of three, potentially even at two or one, leadership potential can be identified. This then should be nurtured and developed, rather than being pulled into mainstream. Similarly, the role of a creative adviser was also identified which also warrants further development. This working paper identifies aspects for further longitudinal research and asks whether roles can be nurtured from an early age.