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I'd like to add that you don't need to "formally" be the leader. In my world (mostly involving IT and consultancy) there is an informal meritocracy and junior staff will often aspire to be as smart as their chosen guru, regardless of their formal position in the organisation.

In the battle to "do the right thing" some people are motivated to produce something elegant and robust (and screw the project plan), and other are motivated to produce something quickly and effective (and meet the deadline). Your boss may want the latter, your technical guru the former.