So you want to be a leader? Do you realize that being a leader is not just sugar and honey?
Do you know that famous quote: "A great leader is also a great follower" regarding politics, military and such where there are ranks.
Let me tell you some reasons why I lead my group:
-I never am late
-I'm always ready to go out
-I cary responsibility for the decisions made for the group
-if there is something to be done and no one wants to do it then I do it
-I always treat them with respect
-I don't argue if people don't want to do what I said
-I know more people then all of them together
-I manage to get the group in clubs for free
-I get more girls than all of them together and they know it
-I drink more then them and still watch for them when they get drunk
-I listen to what they say
-I never ditch my friends for some girl
-I always try to help them
-they all love to talk to me
-You have to have their trust this really is necessary. Having it doesn't mean you are the leader, but to be the leader you have to have their trust
Are you wiling to do all of this and more just to decide to which bar you and your friends will go next?
Being the leader is not something I choosed, this is just how things developed.
The thing is I'm OK with doing all the sh!t I mentioned because it takes me out of the comfort zone and its also the DJ mode of approaching life.
If what you want is just the leadership then you can do what Caesar said: "Divide et impera". It worked for me when I didn't knew anyone then chilled with a strange group for a few days that had a natural leader. After that I started to get close to people from the group. One by one I made them my group. I was pretty surprised by the outcome, but of course you cant really do this with your friends because you already know each other.
Anyways you will better just have fun with them and gradually improve yourself until they see your superiority and that will give you the leadership slow and steady.
but I usually just end up following the group/the person that I am with.
Some of the above posters said thing like: "you have to lead"
What the fvck can you lead if no one follows?
They will never follow you if you dont prove to them that you deserve this position, and that with you as a leader the group will have more fun, get more chicks, be popular etc
So first show them the advantages of doing what you say, then make decisions.
Good luck!