There is no difference except that being thought of as a leader places that person in a position they may not have chosen. This happens when people volitionally elevate someone because of their attributes and behavior. In this case, people have selected a person to lead them who they trust to represent and protect them in many ways.
Otherwise, leaders are selected by those in leadership positions. It’s not the people they are to lead that do the choosing because this gives power to those not intended to have it. The power to empower is a rare gift made available to few people. Leadership selection takes place in most organizations where a hierarchy is in place. Power is established, as are the methods of selecting leaders, and is not easily shared.
Leaders selected by a group may be political or social. In the case of a sports team, selection may be based on the contribution an individual makes, which benefits the team and, therefore, its members. So, as I have written, the power to select a leader depends greatly on the type of organization we have in mind.
Entrepreneurs mostly do what they do for money. Power is rarely a driving force (although it exists). It’s important to know when and if power is the motive behind one’s behavior. It’s not difficult to identify—only difficult to deal with.
I care for people—Help them as best as able—It is good this way.
Sy
Author: Sy Ogulnick
Sy Ogulnick received a BA from UCLA, Teacher’s Credential from Los Angeles Board of Education and completed phase I (Master’s portion) in a Doctor of Behavioral Science program at California Coast University. Sy leased and operated a summer day camp in LA. He and his wife then purchased virgin wilderness land in Northern CA, where they built and operated a coed summer camp. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, and purchased, built and operated a community children’s program for families staying in a major resort casino in Las Vegas. They have created programs for children nationwide that employed many people and in the process developed successful training programs for personnel. This led Sy to lecture on how to train staff and the creating of community within the workplace. Sy was then invited to speak at professional conferences on how best to hire and train employees, which led to his becoming a consultant in the art of improving relationships in a work environment and eventually to his epiphany that “Leaders are the primary problem and the answer to the personnel issues that arise in the workplace.” Sy has written numerous papers on the subject of interpersonal relationships, leadership and power. He has lectured throughout the United States, has been interviewed by the media and has appeared on many radio and TV talk shows
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