No matter who you put together, people always form into hierarchies. They've done these types of experiments again and again.
They take ten guys, stick them in a room, and one guy or girl becomes the leader. No matter who they choose, this always happens.
It also happens very unconsciously, and very quickly. Most people don't think about it consciously. It just happens. Bottom line is people have a kind of switch inside our heads, where we determine if we are a follower or a leader.
As some famous guru once said, there are three people in this world. Those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those who say, "What happened?"
Those that are natural leaders tend to make things happen. Or at the very least, they are on top of things as they are happening naturally or organically, and tend to take credit, or have credit given to them.
How do you become a powerful leader? How do you be the guy or girl who always takes charge? The simple answer is to simply take charge. See yourself as a leader. See yourself as somebody who leads instead of somebody who follows.
The truth about we interpret people is that we first look to others how they interpret themselves. If you see yourself as weak, everybody else will see you as weak. If you see yourself as strong, everybody else will see you as strong.
Nobody will give you leadership unless you first assume it. The way you walk, the way you speak, the way you act. This doesn't mean you need to become a tyrant. Quite the contrary. Truth is that most natural leaders are people that other people want to be leaders.
Not only because they are strong and self confident, but because they are kind, thoughtful and genuinely have the true interests of others at heart. So when you next decide to step up and become a leader, do so because you genuinely want to help others, and people will gladly follow you.
Of course, going from where you are now to where you want to be isn't always easy. That's why 99% of the population is happy to be followers their whole lives.