Organizations will normally rank between these two extremes depending upon the size and formality of the organization. However, all types will require good communications skills and some other characteristics of successful leaders will be similar. Military, police and other organization or groups, which have strong, top-down power structures, are excluded from this categorization. The exclusion of these types is arbitrary. The leadership of such groups is both voluntary and involuntary.
Voluntary leadership does occur in military organizations, but involuntary leadership also occurs.
Some businesses and other groups and organizations also have strong, top-down structures. Families are excluded from this classification because membership is not voluntary for the children. The question of power and leadership within the family, which has strong emotive, moral and traditional aspects, assumes different dimensions than in voluntary organizations. T he ability to work effectively in organizational settings is often an important part of leadership. Knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order and other parliamentary rules is essential for working in more formal organizations.