[KenWittlief]

Many of the tasks that fall on the shoulders of the team leader are not so much leadership issues, they are more single-point of contact, or team wide issues and tasks that need to be addressed.

Things like the overall project schedule, the total cost of the program, shipping, paperwork... Most people on the team will end up working on subsystems: mechanical, electrical, software, team spirit.... but for the tasks that apply to the team as a whole it just makes sense to have one person be responsible for everything at that level.

Most people tend to function focused down like a spot light. They zoom in on specific details. A team leader needs to be able to keep their attention on the big picture, more like a floodlight. To some degree this skill is something you are born with, a natural ability or tendancy. Maybe this is why some people tend to be 'natural born leaders' ?