Yes, couldnt agree more. The thing is, there is an inherent risk in strong leadership since the organization/country/unit invariably starts to exhibit the same positive/negative traits as the leader. In my humble opinion, leadership has a life cycle of about six years before becoming stale. So leadership preferred. But leadership switches, an absolute prerequisite.

So what do people think is the leadership age spike in a person? From people I've met, talked to etc. I'd say people in their late forties are the best leaders of an organization. Best trade off between experience and enthusiasm.

You should separate the ability to lead from the age of a person.
You may find that young people are great leaders of other young people.
Other key characteristics that can make someone a good leader are:-
1) Self-esteem/Self-confidence
2) Good rapport-builder
3) Charismatic
4) Diplomatic
5) Good listener
6) Trustworthy, honest, reliable
7) Good sense of humour
8) Experience
9) Respect of the team
10) Physically strong/tall/attractive

7 I wholeheartedly agree with, it's an underestimated quality in a leader.
10 I disagree with. I'd definitely value somebody who "preserves" him or herself well, does regular sports, dresses well, because it reflects on the image of the organization well, but size and intrinsic attractiveness mean very little to me.

@red - intrinsic attractiveness may mean very little to you personally but of course you're not everyone and attraction is very subjective. if I asked you for your ideal characteristics to lead your basketball team I'm sure it would very different from the characteristics required to lead your female cosmetics marketing team. Don't let your own prejudices blind you from reality.

Sorry, that's my boys bloody login again, I've gotta get rid of his login that is saved on my pc !!!!!

very annoying .....

I don't know... 10 cannot be dismissed purely because we find it unpalatable. Looking the part can give a leader an important head start in inspiring those under them (although what looking the part means varies from role to role). Of course people who look completely wrong may change, via their actions, the public perception of what the look of that role should be... but this tends to be a long process and needs a fair bit of luck as well as a lot of skill.

Oh dear.... I'm agreeing with Nigs again... This is becoming a habit :(

I'm not dismissing it because I find it unpalatable. Good looks really mean very little. An ugly person has a higher probability of having gone through the experience of being disliked for causes that are not under his control. This is a process leaders often go through. Being able to deal with it could be a quality.

So part of what you look for in a leader, Red, is someone with a slightly world worn complexion that gives them impression that they've been out there and done things? You instinctively want someone who looks the part, although your definition of looking the part differs from Nigee's

Experience is definitely a part of leadership. Take a look at French President Hollande. He's been pretty much in charge of a small rural area in France that - frankly - probably took very good care of itself prior to his ascension. I think that is reflected in the naivety with which he took office and the incredible time it took to come back at certain ideas.

If interested in leadership you should check out Field Marshal Lord Slim. One of the best and least known leaders in WW2 who wrote extensively on the topic of leadership.

'Defeat into Victory' is a good one.

After prior to his ascension I should have written "before he became President"

Really? I quite like ascension in that context. Although condemnation perhaps would have been more fitting. I can think of few worse fates than having to try and lead unwilling Frenchmen.

"Good looks really mean very little. An ugly person has a higher probability of having gone through the experience of being disliked for causes that are not under his control."
- Red I used the word attractive but you filtered this as 'good looks' but you make a good point because we fall into this trap so often. We filter other peoples words and give them new meaning, then by using our words we have put our bias/slant into a discussion.
Attraction is in the eye of the beholder, this is not a good looking vs ugly discussion, this is talking about people who can be more effective leaders by making themselves more attractive to others, I think one of the most powerful ways of appearing attractive to others is when you compliment them, or agree with them, empathise, build rapport, etc
Physical strength, being fit and healthy or strong or tall can be very useful tools in becoming a leader, depending of course what you're leading.
Ask a person to describe their dream partner, many people will find these attributes desirable. How many leaders do we have in the World that are over-weight. How many fat Presidents have there been?

"How many fat Presidents have there been? "

More than you might realize. Sickly and fat, even disabled. We've had them. Even more recently in Clinton, hardly the pinnacle of health with his Big Mac attacks and such.

Six to date have been overweight or obese. Taft, Cleveland, McKinley, Taylor, and Teddy Roosevelt were all obese and Clinton falls into the overweight category by BMI (Clinton was a 28.3 BMI). so approximately 15% of the Presidents to date.