"If the leader is filled with high ambition, and if he pursues his aim with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles."
That was said by Karl von Clausewitz, and among all the quotes relating to leadership, it is probably the most accurate.
Defining a leader is not an easy task. It requires looking at the qualities of leadership and determining if an individual possesses them. Of course, if they match a few but not all, does that mean they will be a good leader but not a great one? If they match one but not the rest are they a leader among followers or a very poor leader in general.
This is the fundamental problem with attempting to define what leadership is. One leader is another person's follower and while one leader may possess the right qualities for leadership, another may use them better.
Despite this, we will look at the qualities of the leader and determine which are the most essential and which are only secondary.
There are a few different qualities that every leader needs to possess if they are going to inspire those around them and lead them to a common goal, whether good or bad.
One quality a leader needs to possess is charisma. Charisma is not something that can be defined or even seen. However, when someone comes into contact with an individual who has a lot charisma, they know it and they immediately respond to it. Every great leader in history, the good and the bad, have had charisma in some degree.
One trait of leadership that is seen across many different studies is the ability for dedication. This can be dedication to a cause or a belief, but it is usually something that consumes much of the leader's life, making them a service to their own cause.
This is a very important quality to have as a leader. If an individual lacks integrity, those that follow them will leave very quickly. Of all the qualities that a leader can have, integrity ranks as one of the highest, if not the highest. A true leader will never do anything or ask anything of anyone, that they would not do themselves.
A true leader will listen to what others have to say, but know that at the end of the day, the decision is theirs to make. A good leader must know when a decision has to be made, they need to make that decision and they need to stick to that decision. Flipping and flopping will only serve to alienate the followers of a leader.
Secondary Qualities
There are so many secondary qualities that a leader needs, it is nearly impossible to list them all. However, here are a few of the most important secondary qualities that a leader should possess.
Ability to Communicate and Listen
A leader needs to have the ability to listen to those around them and handle opinions that may be contrary to their own beliefs. At that point, the leader needs to have the ability to communicate effectively and show those around him or her why their opinion is the right one for the situation.
Leaders do make mistakes and their ability to admit when they make mistakes will earn them the respect of those around them. Everyone makes mistakes, but few admit to them.
Reflection and Assessment
A true leader will look at the whole picture, rather than just themselves. They will be able to look at everything and assess what is happening, what is not happening and what they can do to influence the outcome. They need to look at the big picture and understand long-term priorities and short-term emergencies. This clarity comes from remaining calm under pressure.
True leaders will have a deep satisfaction about what they have done to change the world. They will know they did their best when they were called upon and they went into it with certainty, conviction and patience.
All great leaders have a heightened awareness of their own being.
What Does It All Mean?
Taking all of these into consideration, what really makes a leader? Granted some of the greatest leaders in history don't have all of these attributes, but most of them have the majority.
One thing that is important to remember when you are looking at a leader is perception. In fact, perception of the leader from the followers is really what defines a leader throughout history.
An excellent example is Adolf Hitler. He was, without a doubt, a horrible and disturbed individual, but through the perception of those who followed him, he was the supreme form of leader. Ample charisma and an ability to convince individuals about his cause allowed him to get immense amounts of followers. On the flip side, Gandhi was an amazing leader who was perceived by many as a holy figure come to save India. His methods and beliefs were very different from Hitler's but to their followers, they were perceived as the same; great leaders.
There is a misconception that a leader has to have followers. The truth is that there are many individuals who are not leaders, which have many followers. They do not lead by example, they fool the masses. These are the want-to-be leaders that everyone should watch out for.
Real leaders are those that do not need followers, or pursue them. For them, followers simply show up because they are drawn to the individual.
There are plenty of pretend leaders, and real leaders, in the world, and the trick is looking through the facade and finding the qualities beneath.
Using the qualities we have listed here, you can find out if someone is a leader through simple elimination techniques on only the primary qualities. 
