How can you spot the leader in any meeting? (hint: it has nothing to do with their title)
People in the room will address their comments to, and make eye contact with, the real leader. Whoever the participants are looking at most is likely the leader, whatever their formal rank. Leadership is all about who holds influence, and may or may not correspond to title or rank.
There are all sorts of reasons you need to know who the leader is. Whether you’re trying to promote, trying to find the real decision maker, or trying to evaluate the strength of a current leader, this simple rule uncovers the truth.
As I frequently rant, leadership is about influence, not about title. And everyone looks to the influencer in a meeting.