Behaviour by which one person controls who speaks, joins or is heard in a group.
One member repeatedly turns toward a favoured colleague and away from another who tries to speak. The attention is steered quietly, granting voice to some and withholding it from others.
Notice who grants and withholds attention, since this reveals informal control. The person whose glance decides who gets heard often holds more sway than any title suggests.
Facilitation and gatekeeping can look alike, so consider whether the intent is fair. A good host also directs the flow of talk, so judge by whether all voices are given a chance.
The way the most influential person in a group tends to claim central or commanding space.
ExploreThe tendency of people who agree or feel close to gather physically together.
ExploreThe unconscious matching of posture and movement among members of a cohesive group.
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