M S Import of Vertical Cohesion and the Linking Pin Function in the Military

The leader has potential positive effects on the primary group life and performance. For example, leader competence elevates the followers ’ morale1, group performance2 and cohesion3. With emotional support and by recognizing and resolving interpersonal problems and conflicts in the group, the small group leader influences the psychological atmosphere of the group4, the personal adjustment, self-esteem, and performance motivation of soldiers5, and insulation of the negative outcomes of stress6. On the other hand with task support, the leader helps the group members to perform in a manner that makes the group’s goals achievable7 and builds a general frame where the particular performance is implemented, such as stressing roles, norms, task-oriented activities, and specific goals of the group8. Thus, a leader potentially has wide-spread influence on the individual level of a$ributes (e.g., a$itudes, behavior, and performance) as well as the group functioning in terms of consensus, efficient norms, well-organized tasks, and pleasing relationships between group members. As indicated above, the leader’s effect on the small group has received broad a$ention in leadership research, and the outcomes of the successful leadership are well-known at the group level. Therefore, this article expands the focus beyond the primary group and looks the role of the leader between the primary and secondary groups (i.e., between a group and the organization where the group is embedded). The premise of the article is that leaders occupy a position between different organizational levels, being a member of at least two hierarchical groups at the same time (i.e., Likert’s linking-pin function of leaders9). For example in the military, squad and platoon leaders stand as a mediator or a linking-pin of several groups such as the social group of the platoon, the leadership team consisting of all leaders in the platoon, and the unit transmi$ing orders of the company commander and carrying out th