Ellynne wrote:

With the exception of getting them to got to Auron, she's rarely (if ever) able to persuade them to change their minds and follow a course of action she outlines.

Cally doesn't persuade them to go to Auron. Tarrant takes charge of that. And he holds that ground when Avon is still mumbling about it later. Tarrant also takes charge--this time siding against Cally--before they teleport to the planet.

CALLY: It would be quicker if we took Orac down with us. AVON: It would be stupid to compound the risk. CALLY: Risk! They're dying down there, dying by the thousands,. TARRANT: Orac stays, Cally.

Cally stops arguing once Tarrant has weighed in on Avon's side.

At first, this seems ironic since Cally is one of the more sociable members of the crew,

Sociable doesn't equate with leadership material. Competency doesn't even equate with leadership material. As you noted, Cally is very good at directing her own course of action. She's decisive and forceful. That's especially evident when she threatens the Terra Nostra in SHADOW. But she's not very good at getting others to do her bidding, which we see in the same episode when Vila doesn't obey her order to remain on the ship.

Just as Cally may be unable to argue her position persuasively to the others, they may find themselves exerting pressures on her without realizing that's how it comes across to her

I don't think they worry about how they come across to her. It's a case of the stronger wills prevailing. The stronger wills rise to the top of the leadership ladder.

We see that in first and second seasons when Blake's stronger will prevails.

It's not as universal in third and fourth seasons because Tarrant is willing and able to go against Avon. Which is no doubt why Avon pulled the gun on him in "Terminal." He knew he couldn't best Tarrant with words alone.

Hmm, makes me wonder if there was something else going on in Avon's mind when he criticized Aurons for always conforming to the group.

That's an interesting point. If Auron raised their young to believe in compromise over confrontation, that might contribute to Cally's inability to lead.

Carol