One group of leaders, often called gatekeepers or key leaders, includes those people whose endorsement may be needed if a project is to be supported locally. Examples of this type of leader might include a chairperson of a county land conservation committee, a municipal public works director or the head of a local farm organization. While it may not be necessary or appropriate that these leaders serve on a committee, their initial and ongoing support may be important. Another useful group of leaders are those people who are active workers and officeholders in community, civic and service clubs. They can function as organizers of community projects and as the means through which to diffuse information and build support for project activities and decisions.
Specialized leaders exert influence on decisions related to their specific area of competency.
The social leader or harmonizer is more concerned with managing group dynamics by focusing on people and groups and their relationships to each other. Formal versus informal leaders - Formal leaders have formal positions in government, business and other organizations. While they have the authority of their positions, they may or may not have strong personal leadership attributes. Informal leaders don t have formal titles or positions, but play leadership roles in informal networks found in urban and rural neighborhoods. Informal leaders and their networks can be very effective vehicles for diffusing information and mobilizing resources.