Instead, he leads not just with words but with action. He is always the first into the fray and always the last to retreat from the battlefield. Lead by example. "Do as I tell you, not as I do" is not something you will hear from the star-spangled Avenger.Have a solid core. Rogers (even before he gains superpowers) has incredible integrity and conviction. He wants to fight the Nazis and refuses to stop trying to join the military, even after each branch rejects him based on his lack of physical prowess. Later, that same strong moral core helps him stand by his convictions and refuse to compromise. Strong leaders can be seen sometimes as fanatical, but the key is to focus on what they are fanatical about. In the case of Rogers, it is "truth, justice and the American way.".In Captain America: Civil War, Cap stands by a former friend who has been brainwashed into becoming a villain. He refuses to give up on his childhood friend and eventually is able to bring him onto his own team. Value inclusion and diversity. Cap sees value in everyone. As a result, he is able to balance world-sized egos and powerhouse monsters, finding the value in each of his teammates regardless of their background, powers, or personality.
Jim Collins's seminal book Good to Great describes "Level V Leadership" (pronounced: Level 5 Leadership) as combining extreme humility with incredible willpower. Collins suggests that Level V Leaders are obsessed with victory for the sake of the venture, not for personal glory. Even though Captain America has saved the world several times and pals around with thunder gods and billionaire geniuses, he remains grounded and focused on the greater goal, not on himself.
They use their personal power to lead. Even when Rogers is no longer Captain America, his personal convictions give him sway over the other heroes and allow him to continue to lead. Positional power versus personal power. Great leaders don't rely on their title to command others.