Leadership versus Authority

It amazes me sometimes how people can mistake authority for leadership.  Real leaders do not need authority, nor do they often crave it.  People follow ideas and the folks brave enough to stand in front of them, not a position of authority.  I have witnessed many people from my generation abuse authority,.  Furthermore, these same people do not question the fundamental leadership values that are inherent in social power.....Ideas.....The carrot and the stick approach only works if the IDEA of the carrot is appealing.