Theres a thought behind the three "powers" of leadership. One is leadership as influence, which your piece covers of very well. Two is leadership as authority. And last is leadership as management, or resource enablement.

One thing I do deeply agree with you is the influence is so so so much cheaper and effective when done right. While the other twos are easy to give, influence is so ethereal. Like holding smoke. Yet, someone has to do it. And they need to do it well!