The Psychology of 'Leadership'…?

In coaching two clients recently on the subject of Leadership, I noticed a common theme, though with apparently different causes. Both my clients are showing resistance to 'stepping up' to Leadership. They of course wouldn't accept that it's resistance. From where they stand it seems impossible to assume Leadership, "…until…"

Here are some of their 'untils':

• "until 'they' accept my role, and I am officially 'anointed' as leader"
• "until I've got 'all my ducks in a row' - finished everything I have to do"
• "until I've managed some tricky interpersonal issues"
• "until I've got somebody in place to replace me 'doing' all the tasks I'm currently spending all my time on"

It seems to me that what my clients are missing is that growing into leadership isn't an incremental process - it's a 'state change'. It doesn't take time; it takes a transformation - of outlook, courage and focus.

The challenge for me now is to find a way of helping them to 'get' this - and to get that '...until...' never actually comes!