Final answer:
Hunter-gatherer societies lack leaders with formal authority because leadership is situational and temporary, based on prowess and personality. Decision-making is done through discussion and consensus, and leaders have persuasive power but no formal means of enforcing their will.
Step-by-step explanation:
In most hunter-gatherer societies, leaders lack formal authority because leadership is situational and temporary, based on prowess and personality. One person may lead a hunt, another may lead a honey-collecting expedition, and so on. Decision-making is done through discussion and consensus, and leaders have persuasive power but no formal means of enforcing their will. This lack of formal authority is due to the egalitarian nature of hunter-gatherer societies, where people are considered equal and valued for their contributions to the group.