One of the facts of life for a person newly placed in a leadership role is the reality that, as the leader, they will not ever be able to simply join in with their team on the same sociological level as the rest of the players.
Leadership sets a person apart. This is both functional and psychological. It is also the reason why many people struggle when they are first placed in a leadership role. Having a history prior to leadership of being able to blend in with the team, they simply aren’t in the same role as everyone else now that they are a leader.
They have been set-apart to lead. And so the first test of leadership is whether or not they are willing to lead - or whether then feign from their new role and try to slip back into the crowd.
Leadership requires the willingness to stand in a unique and often singular position. So for those who are newly appointed to the role of leader, the choice is straight-forward:
Lead. Or abandon the role of leader.
No one in leadership has ever been able to have it both ways.