There are many people who would not appear to be leaders at first sight.
They might not meet people's preconceptions of a leader as a "powerful" figure.
Luckily physical presence is not a prerequisite for leadership success. I don't think anyone would deny the leadership qualities of Mother Theresa of Calcutta honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 or that of Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi. People of this caliber earned incredible respect from their actions and a huge following.
Leader Ladder
People will naturally follow a person with greater leadership skills training than themselves. This is not an unchallengeable law. If you are in a situation where there is chain of command, for example, in the armed forces or even within a chain of management levels, you may well be following an individual whose leadership skills are less than your own.
Training Others
As you mature in your leadership training skills it will become easier to spot the lack of these skills in others. This will be to your advantage as the training of those reporting to you will greatly improve this valuable resource to yours and their benefit.
Group Dynamics
If you take a group of people and give them a task to accomplish the natural leaders will appear. They are usually the first to make suggestions and direct events.
Initially, discussion may have no focus and then people begin to take the lead of the natural leaders as they emerge. Within this group the most gifted leader will then materialize and all will follow him or her. This is a fairly common process recognized by most.
The lesser leaders are often found out by being over confident to the point of arrogance and trying to take over the show. Respect is not given to the loudest in the group.
When a leader leaves an organization he or she is often followed by those who would prefer to follow only him or her.
Ivory Towers
Talk to the people in your organization. Get to know them and their work.
If you set yourself up in an ivory tower communication will not only be poor but will lack any conviction. This will eventually destroy trust then influence and finally leadership.
