The article deals with the psychological and pedagogical problems of the formation of leadership qualities of cadets in the conditions of modern military education. It is assumed that the origins of this problem are due to the technocratic approach to education in general. It is argued that the realization of the leadership potential of cadets is due to the type of pedagogical process that is implemented in a military university and directly by the teacher. The ways of practical use of both traditional approaches and innovative pedagogical ways, methods and means in the pedagogical practice of military education are proposed.