essay on leaders are born not made

Leaders are Made, Not Born: Examples and Debate Points Essay

Leaders are made, not born introduction, leaders are made, not born: debate points, leaders are made, not born conclusion.

According to Gregory (2009), a leader is an individual who has the capacity and desire to inspire and influence his or her subjects. There has been a lot of debate on whether a leader is born or made. Some people believe that a great leader has some inborn attributes, while others are confident that leadership abilities, just like other skills, can be learned with time. It is vital to agree that leadership is a vital provision; nonetheless, great leaders are not born with their abilities, they are made.

First, most leaders neither carry forward their legacy nor do their backgrounds suggest they can make good leaders. For example, children of great leaders do not necessarily become leaders. This shows that leadership skills are not hereditary traits but skills learned through many processes. In the global arena, Obama’s parents were never leaders; however, their son (Barrack Obama) has managed to nurture his leadership skills to lead the greatest nation in the world. In this context, the greatest leaders are not born. They are made as indicated earlier.

Usually, it starts with a personal decision to become a leader. However, there are certain attributes that constitute good leadership abilities that are inborn. One such attribute is intelligence. A leader should be intelligent enough to make the right decisions in any kind of situation. For example, Nelson Mandela of South Africa managed to nurture his leadership skills.

Generally, leadership skills are hardly hereditary abilities. An individual who eventually becomes a great leader undergoes many learning processes. They study other leaders, try to imitate their conduct, and select their role models. Most American leaders have chosen Abraham Lincoln as their role model due to his intelligence and leadership prowess (Pace, 2006). Of course, great leaders can falter; however, they can improve their skills with the feedback they get from different people. This helps them develop into great leaders since they are able to transform their behaviors for the better (Gill, 2012).

It is vital to agree that most great leaders are not born with abilities and legendary leadership skills. Prominent leaders like Barrack Obama have struggled for ages to attain their status quo and nurture their leadership skills. In order to become a great leader, one has to develop interest, endure, listen to mentors, and transform appropriately. One does not need to be born a leader so as to lead appropriately.

Gill, R. (2012). Theory and Practice of Leadership . Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publishers

Gregory, A. (2009). Great leaders are born or made ?

Pace, J. (2006). Professional development series: Books 1-4. Boston: McGraw Hill.

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Great Leaders Are Made, Not Born

• Marshall Goldsmith

Are leaders born or made? This is one of the most frequently asked questions in all leadership development. To begin with, let’s start with a definition of “leader.” My friend and mentor, Dr. Paul Hersey, defines leadership as “working with and through others to achieve objectives.” Given this definition, anyone in a position whose achievement […]

Are leaders born or made?

• MG Marshall Goldsmith is recognized as one of the world’s leading executive educators and coaches. Dr. Goldsmith’s 30 books include What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and MOJO .

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5 Are Leaders Born or Made?

• Published: January 2014
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Whether leadership is “born or made” has long intrigued theorists, management practitioners and the lay public. While many believe that leadership in iconic figures such as Nelson Mandela must surely be something he was born with, the chapter opens with a study of his early life, effectively demonstrating the complexity of the issue. The effects of exposure to adversity early in one’s life, and social, family and non-familial influences on the later development of leadership, are discussed. Some of the most interesting and provocative recent research findings have shown that genetic factors are also implicated in the question of who emerges as a leader, and on leadership behaviors. While most of this research focuses on high quality leadership, the role of family influences in the development of destructive leadership has also been identified

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Essay on Leaders Are Born Not Made

Students are often asked to write an essay on Leaders Are Born Not Made in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Leaders Are Born Not Made

Natural leaders.

Some people believe that leaders come into the world with special traits. They think that these qualities, like being very brave or being able to inspire others, are gifts they are born with, not something they learn.

Inborn Qualities

Imagine a baby who grows up to be very confident and good at making decisions. These are signs of a natural leader. Supporters of this idea say these traits can’t be taught in school or through practice.

History’s Examples

History is full of leaders who showed their talent early on. They stood out without formal training, suggesting that their ability to lead was part of who they were from the start.

250 Words Essay on Leaders Are Born Not Made

Natural-born leaders.

Many people believe that leaders are born, not made. This means that some individuals naturally have qualities that make them good at leading others. From the moment they come into the world, they seem to have a special something that sets them apart.

Inborn Traits

A leader who is born has certain traits from the start. They are often confident, brave, and good at making decisions. Even as children, they take charge in games and group activities. They seem comfortable when all eyes are on them, and they can handle tough situations with ease.

Family Influence

Sometimes, a child is born into a family with a history of leadership. They grow up seeing their parents or relatives lead, which can inspire them to do the same. It’s like they have leadership in their blood, and they naturally learn how to guide others by watching their family.

Leadership and Learning

It’s true that leaders can learn new skills and get better. But those who are born leaders have a head start. They don’t need much training to understand how to inspire and direct people. It’s almost as if they were meant to be leaders from the beginning.

In conclusion, the idea that leaders are born and not made suggests that leadership is a natural gift. Some people have the right qualities from the moment they are born, and these qualities help them become great leaders without much effort. While anyone can learn to be better at leading, natural-born leaders have a special advantage.

500 Words Essay on Leaders Are Born Not Made

Introduction to leadership.

When we think of a leader, we often picture someone who guides others, makes important decisions, and inspires people to do their best. Some people believe that leaders are born with special qualities that make them stand out from the start. This idea suggests that leadership is not something you can learn in school or from a book, but rather it is a natural ability that a person has from birth.

The Traits of Born Leaders

Leaders who are thought to be born have certain traits that are hard to miss. They are confident, can talk to people easily, and have a way of making others want to listen and follow them. These leaders often show signs of being in charge even when they are very young, like being the captain of a sports team or the student who organizes school events without being told to.

Leadership in History

Throughout history, there have been many famous leaders who seemed to have a natural talent for leading. For example, great kings and queens, military generals, and revolutionary figures often showed leadership skills from a young age. These historical examples support the idea that some people are simply born to lead.

Leadership and Personality

Scientists have found that certain parts of our personality are linked to our genes. This means that some of the qualities that make a good leader, like being brave or being able to stay calm in tough situations, might be passed down from parents to their children. This could explain why some people seem to be natural leaders—they inherit these traits.

Leadership Cannot Be Taught?

Those who believe leaders are born and not made think that leadership cannot be taught. They argue that you can learn some skills, like public speaking or problem-solving, but the true essence of leadership is something you either have or you don’t. According to this view, no amount of training can turn someone into a leader if they don’t already have the natural qualities needed.

Leadership as a Natural Role

In groups of friends or in class, there is often one person who takes the lead without being asked. This person doesn’t need to be the strongest or the smartest, but they have a way of bringing people together and helping the group make decisions. This shows that in everyday life, some individuals naturally take on the role of a leader.

The debate about whether leaders are born or made has been going on for a long time. Those who think leaders are born point to the natural traits, historical examples, and the role of personality in leadership. They believe that true leaders have something special that sets them apart and this cannot be created through education or practice. While not everyone may agree, the idea that leaders are born with their abilities is a reminder that sometimes, the qualities that make someone a good leader might just be a part of who they are from the very beginning.

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Are Leaders Born or Made?

What does science say about it, leadership traits and how to develop them, leadership demands work.

“Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” These immortal words come from Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi. In this quote, the belief that true leadership comes through experience, determination, and passion surfaces. Others will contend, however, that many leaders are born with leadership characteristics. These “natural-born leaders,” as they’re sometimes called, rise to the occasion because that’s just who they are.

So the question still stands: Are leaders born or made? There is truth to both sides of the coin. However, great leaders are well-rounded in many areas—most of which are learned over time. Whether managing a growing business or leading a major corporation, leaders emerge by developing their natural talents and the beneficial qualities of a person .

Science backs up this claim, too. Research from the University of Illinois shows people can be molded into leaders. If this is true, that means anyone can become a leader if they want to be. That would mean entire companies might have whole teams of leaders ready to break free. We’ll explore this question by first looking at what scientists say. Then learn about some common traits found in great leaders and how you can develop these, too.

Researchers across the globe have tried answering this question. Like many others, they want to know if there’s a genetic component to leadership or if it’s something people learn over time from a  mentor   or coach. One famous  debate  at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 2016 took two groups from the Academic Fellows Program and had them argue over which side had the most evidence in their favor.

These groups looked at several studies of twins to compare leadership traits. The findings were not as conclusive as they likely hoped. The side which argued that leaders are born, not made, showed examples of twins who demonstrated impressive leadership capabilities, such as astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly. The side which favored the “leadership is learned” argument showed examples of leadership principles and traits that cannot be genetic, such as a passion for helping others, integrity, and a vision for the future. The two groups concluded that the answer likely involved some element of both nature and nurture.

Most experts agree that exceptional leaders make time to develop their craft. For this reason, the following characteristics should be of particular focus when working on increasing leadership abilities.

1. Accepting Responsibility

When he was President of the United States, Harry S. Truman famously had a  sign  on his desk stating, “The Buck Stops Here.” That meant that he was ultimately responsible for whatever happened during his administration. Leaders take responsibility and never “pass the buck.” As Jocko Willink teaches in  Extreme Ownership , true leaders take full ownership of everything their team does, including accepting the blame when things fall apart. It’s not always easy to do, but leaders know everyone is counting on them. Team members who see this will want to mimic this behavior as well. As Willink writes, “leadership is contagious.”

How to Accept Responsibility

• Do more than you’re required to do
• Show up on time 
• Admit mistakes
• Apologize when necessary
• Don’t shift blame onto others
• Offer solutions to problems without being prompted

2. Constant Learning

The best leaders have an unyielding appetite for learning. They’re constantly looking for new information. This isn’t just out of necessity for their jobs—it’s also due to their curiosity. They keep up with the news, seek new ways to solve problems, and read about topics outside their expertise. As Bill Gates said in an interview with  The Guardian , “I try to make time for reading each night. In addition to the usual newspapers and magazines, I make it a priority to read at least one newsweekly from cover to cover. If I were to read only what intrigues me—say, the science and business sections—then I would finish the magazine the same person I was when I started. So I read it all.”

Some of the world’s most prominent business leaders have a reputation for wanting to learn all the time.  Jan Koum , the co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp, lived in extreme poverty in Ukraine before moving to the U.S. where he faced even more difficulties. However, his desire to learn never faded. After only two years in the United States, Koum taught himself computer programming. He even joined a hacking group so he could learn all about cybersecurity, scalability, and networking. All of this hands-on learning would eventually pay off, and today, Koum has a net worth of almost $10 billion.

How to Keep Learning

• Read books, magazines, newspapers, and web articles about a variety of subjects
• Set aside time each day for reading
• Ask questions from people in other industries
• Keep an open mind

3. Motivating to Action

Great leaders hone in on the ability to inspire other people to action. When on a team, they keep their teammates focused on the goal, motivating them every step of the way. At times when frustration may set in, they raise everyone’s spirits. Some business leaders, like  Elon Musk , aim to motivate people by sharing an inspirational vision. For years, Musk has talked about the importance of space exploration, setting goals many thought unachievable (such as having a million people living on Mars by the year 2050). There’s little doubt his employees share that vision and feel motivated by his words and infectious enthusiasm. The sign of a great leader is motivating people to see the seemingly impossible as possible.

How to Motivate Others

• Keep an optimistic attitude
• Focus on the positive and don’t dwell on the negative
• Encourage others to become the best version of themselves
• Share a vision and help others see it

4. Adapting to Changes

No matter the industry, change always happens. Effective leaders can adapt to those changes. They see change as an opportunity to grow and learn. They never take the more pessimistic route and think of change as bad. If anything, they view it all as a challenge to overcome and help other people see it that way, as well.

The ability to adapt goes hand in hand with the constant learning trait discussed above. If a leader always looks for new things to learn, they’ll be in a much better position to adapt to whatever changes occur. They remain focused on their goals but are flexible enough to react to the changing world around them. Returning to the Elon Musk example, SpaceX deals with constant new developments and discoveries that change the landscape of space exploration, but Musk remains firm in his commitment to his vision. SpaceX adapts to technological changes and learns from failed rocket launches to become a better company.

How to Adapt

• Stay calm as changes happen
• Take the time to learn as much about why the change is happening
• Face changes with courage and determination
• Stay focused on goals

5. Showing Empathy

Most people tend to think of great leaders as excellent public speakers and outgoing personalities. While it’s true charisma plays a role in developing followers, that doesn’t mean only extroverts make great leaders. Introverts can be leaders too because much of leadership boils down to how much  emotional intelligence a person has.

Emotional intelligence consists of the leadership skills needed to employ feelings for motivation, planning, and forming bonds with other people. Empathy is part of that equation. Showing empathy means understanding what others are feeling and connecting with them on an emotional level. It’s how leaders solve conflicts, raise spirits, and act appropriately in any social setting.

How to Show Empathy

• Encourage people to voice their opinions and questions
• Support others when they’re struggling
• Praise others when they succeed
• Settle disagreements with compassion and understanding

While some may still argue that natural-born leaders exist, effective leadership still requires work. This indicates that leadership development is something you must do to gain the skills needed for your position. Thinking that true leadership comes from those born with it means only a select few would technically be ready to lead. As Warren G. Bennis notes, “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born—that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”

Want to learn more about how to make yourself into a leader?  The following articles can help:

• Leadership Traits: 7 Characteristics of a Multiplying Leader
• How to Write an Inspiring Leadership Vision Statement
• Transformational Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change

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Leaders Are Born, Not Made

Leadership is a process by which an individual influences others to accomplish set objectives by giving a sense of direction to achieve the goals. In the journey to achieve the common goal in a given group, leadership offers the appropriate direction and necessary steps to be followed in realising the dreams of the team. Leadership can be inborn, where a person is naturally oriented to undertake leadership roles without being informed on handling such issues. In such a case where an individual comes out as an outstanding individual, ready to take charge of roles, then that person is a born leader. Leadership qualities in a person who has not gone through coaching and mentorship to possess those qualities reveal that leaders are born. Therefore, leaders can go through mentorship in the right environment and get the right mentorship to help them advance their leadership skills and guide their teams well. A good number of theories exist that discuss the various types of leadership, with many thinkers and philosophers diving into this subject to help in the understanding of this diverse topic. This paper discusses the idea that leaders are born and not made, with examples to show the statement’s validity.

According to the Great Man Theory of leadership, leaders can be identified by looking at them and analysing their personality traits to determine what they are capable of (Hunt & Fedynich, 2019). These character traits are born, and these attributes show that one is a capable leader. These personal traits differentiate the leader from no leaders, and these traits can be physical or personality characteristics. Historically, leadership is seen as something of the chosen few, and this view strongly supports the idea that leaders are born and not made. Leadership is also seen as something hereditary, and these leaders are taken as heroes in their society as a result of possessing extraordinary skills and abilities, propelling them to the top of leadership. Such families gain respect, admiration and adoration. Leadership is then a special gift to these few individuals who do not have to undergo any training to gain leadership skills.

From a religious point of view, leadership is a God-given gift, and the Lord of Lords sends leaders as heroes to be in charge of the flock of God and teach righteousness to the nation of God (Penttilä, 2021). Thomas Carlyle, the founder of the trait leadership theory, also believes that leaders are born and have lived in times of crisis and discord during industrialisation. During that period, Carlyle found it difficult to believe that the church would offer enough strength, wisdom and the appropriate direction. However, God would do all He could to save the situation of humanity. In restoring order in his hometown, religious institutions or other organisations would not offer the right solution. However, the sent leaders or the born leaders would give a sense of direction and solution to the upheaval. The examples of such leaders are like Shakespeare in the world of fiction for possessing greatness in his attributes. Other remarkable leaders worth respecting are Martin Luther King and Olive Cromwell. Leaders with inborn leaders can inherit their leadership attributes to their children. Great leaders do not have to concentrate more on the background factors or environment to shape their organisational and leadership skills. Findings from research among the Swedish military show that the genetic makeup and family of individuals explain the exceptional leadership traits of leaders compared to the general population (Adams et al., 2018).

Leadership qualities are difficult to achieve with training compared to an individual already with leadership attributes (Penttilä, 2021). The attributes differentiate great leaders from other people. Vision is a great quality a leader should possess, whether in the political or the business field. Great leaders need to own the group’s vision passionately and with enthusiasm to drive it to completion. Such a quality is not taught in any school, nor can it be obtained from reading books; instead, it comes from the personal traits of an individual. The quality of vision is not one to rehearse or practice but one that proves that leaders are born and not made. Another critical quality of leadership is integrity. Leaders who possess the quality of integrity promote trust among their team members while demonstrating a commitment to moral and ethical behaviours. Like vision, integrity is hard to teach and achieve for an individual who does not know integrity or walk in an integral line. Great leaders are naturally integral and trustworthy in their dealings.

Transparency is a leadership quality that will indicate that one will be ready to lead the rest in the right direction. Leadership requires individuals with the ability to state things as they are and address issues most practically without hiding anything from their fellow leaders or their subjects. The transparency trait helps leaders to build trust with employees, and this helps them to give their feedback freely. Individuals who relate well with other people, especially their peers, portray a theory of transformational leadership in which they can easily relate well with people. In transformational leadership, leaders’ relationship with their followers is the most outstanding element. Such individuals showcase leadership traits and can lead others well due to the good human relations they possess. Character forms the core of one’s personality system. As such, the character of an individual is permanent and defines an individual from a young age, hence defining who one is. On the other part, traits are subject to amendment and changes. Therefore, the character can determine whether an individual is naturally a leader. For instance, if an individual is patient, trustworthy and naturally loyal, they will easily make great leaders as opposed to individuals who will learn the skills of management and problem-solving to take on leadership in a given institution or organisation.

Training and experience do not make one a great leader; it is a difficult thing to achieve since leaders are naturally born with the necessary leadership skills. Practising leadership qualities does not qualify an individual to become a leader; however, the personality of a leader is inborn, and this is what matters the most. Leadership demands a lot, like requiring an individual to be confident but humble, wise and bold, to take control yet be ready to accommodate other people’s views and personality traits (Iszatt-White & Saunders, 2017). Other scholars believe that even people who do not possess leadership qualities from birth can acquire them through training. According to these scholars and researchers, leaders can be created through learning and developing personal qualities and skills to reach the level of leadership desired in a given setting. Training among individuals with natural leadership attributes is an added advantage as they will strengthen their leadership qualities. Committing to personal development is a continuous life goal for naturally born leaders as they focus on building their hard and soft leadership skills as time passes, hence attaining even greater authority and respect from others. For instance, people who gain respect from a young age due to how they conduct themselves and engage with others indicate that they are great leaders naturally.

Many people and cultures believe that leaders are born and not made. For instance, according to the relative age effect (RAE) theory in China, individuals born in October and November are more likely to take up leadership in various parties than those born in June and July (Li & Hu, 2022). In addition, such a theory holds that parents who are officials in parties will have a positive impact on their children in choosing their career paths, and their possibility to become leaders is relatively high. Effective leadership is pivotal to the success of any organisation. With the evolution of the leadership sector and its understanding, the contribution of organisational management and human capital must be addressed. Regarding management, there is a need to differentiate between management and leadership. Management Is different from leadership in terms of visions and strategies as it concentrates on monitoring and controlling the organisation’s performance (Benmira & Agboola, 2021). However, leadership and management coexist despite having distinct roles. The two aspects complement each other, and thus, it is hard to separate the two. Every organisation needs leadership to set its vision and goals to be achieved and management to monitor the activities, maintain order and help the company or institution to remain stable at all times.

In conclusion, the discussion on whether leaders are born or made continues, and every side has its argument to validate which belief is true. As the debate goes on, there are indeed leaders who possess leadership qualities naturally, and they are leading well in their sectors. There are also many leaders today who have never had an experience of leadership in their family or community but have been trained to become great leaders. Such leaders have gone past their challenges and gone the extra mile to develop their leadership skills and have thus reached where they are. Leaders can be born, but it does not mean that they do not need nurturing and training. The training is meant to enhance their leadership qualities and help them perform better in their areas of leadership.

Adams, R., Keloharju, M., & Knüpfer, S. (2018). Are CEOs born leaders? Lessons from traits of a million individuals.  Journal of Financial Economics ,  130 (2), 392-408.

Benmira, S., & Agboola, M. (2021). Evolution of leadership theory.   BMJ Leader , leader-2020.

Hunt, T., & Fedynich, L. (2019). Leadership: Past, present, and future: An evolution of an idea.   Journal of Arts and Humanities ,  8 (2), 22-26.

Iszatt-White, M., & Saunders, C. (2017).   Leadership . Oxford University Press.

Li, Y., & Hu, X. (2022). Born leaders: China’s municipal party secretaries.  Applied Economics Letters ,  29 (7), 626–629.

Penttilä, S. (2021). Leadership: Are Leaders Born or Made?

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Born Leader: Leaders Are Born And Not Made

Table of contents, great man theory, traits theory, charismatic leadership theory, transformational leadership, situational leadership, leaders are made, lewin's leadership styles.

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Leaders Are Made Not Born (Essay Sample)

Leaders are made not born.

A leader is a person that who effectively utilizes his skills and intuition to effectively manage all the resources and people towards the achievement of a given goal. These people are able to successfully take the responsibility to guide others and inspire them towards success. When it comes to leadership skills numerous arguments and misconceptions surrounds the source of such skills. Some people note that leaders are born while others say that leaders are made. In contention of the second sentiments, if leaders are born then everybody who is born automatically becomes a leader. However, the statement that leaders are born not made should be reframed and answered in the following way: Leaders are made not born.  It is indeed important to note that some people are born with innate skills of leadership such as confidence, creativity, communication, and assertiveness.  However, even the most talented person with an array of skills has to be nurtured and the skills he has developed in order for the individual to master such art of leadership skills to become a great leader.

Great leaders are made through teaching. Most leaders with great skills usually learn the art of communication which entails listening skills, acceptance of the important feedbacks in the most constructive ways. Furthermore, they are supposed to show empathy, patients with others as well as being able to form part of the team.

On a separate note, great leaders have confidence in their operations, speeches and are a source of encouragement from the rest.  Confidence is a trait that is developed over a period of time. Interactions with others usually elevate a person’s confidence and self-esteem. Leaders usually gain confidence through their constant interactions with employees as well as when they become more decisive in both personal and work lives. Furthermore, confidence is building through progressive learning of an organization and the industry as well as becoming part of the social life hence the leaders become knowledge experts and resourceful personnel for the enterprise. Under such circumstances, the leaders are able to build both their own success as well as those of their subordinate staffs.

Apart from the above-stated sentiments, responsibility and integrity are leadership skills. People are not with the responsibility knowledge as well as integrity. These two skills are acquired in life as a result of interaction others. More so, integrity is normally a choice. People usually accept blames when things are not right and take appropriate actions in solving such problems as well as becoming composed and calm in times of trouble.  Furthermore, leaders are authentic, have a balanced life and are driven by motivation. These principles are not inborn but are acquired through development, and polished over time.  Authenticity is difficult without a lifelong goal or cannot be achieved if a person does not know the type of a person one wants to become. Therefore, an authentic person has person values that are aligned with actions and words. Therefore, it is realized in the current business market where many employees rush for enterprises that enhance the development of their careers to help them have a better tomorrow.

Leaders are intelligent and are able to influence others to follow their directives and commands. This ability requires a person to be an extrovert and charisma. It has been indicated from the psychoanalytical theories that the traits that are exhibited in a person at the adolescence resurface at the adult stage and throughout his life. In addition, leaders cannot become successful in their respective entities without technical skills and knowledge. These skills are obtained through schooling, experience, and training. On the same note, intelligence is required to retain and leverage learning. Therefore, learning the complexities and greater intelligence level is mastered through learning.

In conclusion, leaders usually have mentors and friends who help them become better people. The social lives and the constant interactions are some of the best sources of nurturing skills as well as learning new ideas. The leaders we see in different cultures and from all sorts of life portray some aspects that the soon to become leaders copy. Furthermore, the desire to learn new ideas is an indication that people are incomplete to successfully compete as great leaders in the current society. This is a testimony that leaders are made not born.

5 Reasons Why Leaders are Made not Born

Are Leaders born or made? This is one of the most often-asked question about leadership.

Research by psychologists has proved that, in the main, Leaders are ‘mostly made.’ The best estimates offered by research is that leadership is about one-third born and two-thirds made.

The ability to effectively lead, motivate and direct a group of people – whether it is in business, sport or politics – requires a very complex set of skills, mostly acquired through experiences, self development as well as access to subsequent training.

To expect a person to be born a fully rounded, complete Leader with the ability to influence and direct their Team just doesn’t make sense based on what we know about Group Dynamics.

The fact that leadership is mostly made is good news for those of us involved in leadership development – leaders can indeed be developed. However – and this is the one third – there are some inborn characteristics that the great leaders have naturally which they use to their advantage,

• A Natural Born Leader?   Does this mean that introverts, persons of average social intelligence, or those of us who are not particularly empathic will not make good leaders? Certainly not. A great leader in recent history – the Mayor of New York – has Leadership thrust on him in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks for which he was subsequently honoured. Remember, most of leadership is made, not born. So, if you aspire to positions of leadership, then the best course is to embark on a leadership self-development plan.  
• Doing the Right Thing To be successful, all leaders – whatever their leadership style, type and so on – must choose the right action at the right time and “keep a steady eye on the ball”. They must be courageous, self-aware – and ensure the consistent support of their team of followers.  This is a skill which needs to be practised.        

Intelligence is often associated with leadership. Indeed it is often considered a pre-requisite. But this doesn’t necessarily mean having a very high IQ or being a member of Mensa! Often super intelligent high functioning humans struggle to empathise which is a critical component in being a great leader.

• Lead by Example This may be considered a natural born quality but examples only come through experiences. Noted leadership scholar, Bernard Bass, noted, “The leader must be able to know what followers want, when they want it, and what prevents them from getting what they want.”  

Fortunately, there is tremendous interest in leadership and in leader development. Self motivated Leaders may consider embarking on their own leadership development programme.

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Leaders Are Born Not Made

Published Date: 23 Mar 2015

Disclaimer: This essay has been written and submitted by students and is not an example of our work. Please click this link to view samples of our professional work witten by our professional essay writers . Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssayCompany.

Introduction:

The factual analysis about leader ship in this essay is based on results published in Journals and books published in various time-periods and by a variety of respected people belonging to the Psychological societies around the world. The fact being that no Leader is identical to an other so deriving a conclusion from any particular theory has always been a question mark. Although one may comment about the innate genetic factors which has given raise to “Born Leaders” and the “Made Leaders” by their choice and opportunities to improve their skills and work towards a goal.

Born and Made Concept:

According to “Fielder”, leader is defined as a person who is “appointed, elected, or informally chosen to direct and co-ordinate the work of others in a group”. So one has to understand leader and leader-ship are two very different concepts. With reference to the statement leaders are “born not made”, certain predispositions such as personality characteristics, could add an additional advantage of being a leader. The other factors such as family genes which one may procure are definitely cannot be argued upon. Intelligence, religion-growth-status, society, education, training, job etc... remain as external factors influencing ones Leadership. Therefore a change and a conflict is simply evident. The recent break through of a concept called “Cloning” has stirred a wider controversy about replicating a “LEADER”. Although the research is banned in most countries, a possibility of “BORN” leader in every Human mind is very much an innate quality.

According to William A Cohen (Cohen, 1998), “Lack of leadership ability” can most of the time be corrected with training and a little motivation. An other interesting article about leadership published by the American Psychological Association (June 94), about how a leader is made? Is an intresting topic to discuss upon. Lets take an example for a cause is “Freedom” , wars where fought from stonage to industial age under this concept, a person who had a “Vision to Liberate” became a leader. So one may even draw to a conclusion that a Leader can just persuade to make another leader or in a sense LEADER makes an OTHER LEADER.

The approach which has been used in the Psychological field in the early 1940's is called the “Greatman's” approach . It significantly emphasis a non-factual idea which was believed to be correct until Stogdill's (1948) litrature gave a new pradigm shift to abandon the “Greatman's approach” to innate leadership approach.

The current leadership studies is about Transformational and Transactional leadership , this study is broadly based on interpersonal and interactions about people (Burns 1978). These Transformational leadership behaviour comprises of four main components : Inspirational motivation, Idealised infulence, Individualised consideration and Intellectual stimulation. A charismatic Model of leadership gave birth from the first two of the components (Max Weber).

Five Factor Model : Developed in the 1990's suggests that a person's is unlikely to change much so a new theory of elements came into place. The elements are classified as follows

• Extroversion
• Emotionality
• Agreeableness
• Conscientiousness
• Openess to experience

According to this model it became to some extent that Leaders where born with TRAITS. The openess to experience moulds a person according to his surroundings.

Posner published “The Leadership Challenge” to address issues they uncovered in research on ordinary people achieving individual leadership standards of excellence. Where he says a novel way of a leader to motivate for a cause and to understand and accept his failure for his miscalculations.

Sir Richard Branson- “having a personality of caring about people is important,” says Branson. “You can't be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.” A Person like Sir Branson with absolutely no education as a Manager is a very efficient manager, but he accepted the criticism which he faced of being a lousy manager has turned him into a good leader during his time frame of his success. So a good leader even accepts his own flaws and understands his need to change himself according to the circumstances.

House and Podsakoff(1994) managed to analyse the behaviours and approaches of "outstanding leaders" that they obtained from some of the above mentioned theories and research findings. There findings and summarisation is not based on one's Leadership skills, but an effective or most effective styles of leaders and managers of today. The listed leadership "styles" cover, Some of the examples of leader ship styles used by the leader I have used is highlighted across each skills,

Vision - “I have a Dream” - Martin Luther King

Passion and self-sacrifice. - “Apartheid” - Sir. Nelson Mandela

Confidence, - “Freedom struggle” - Mahatma Gandhi

Image-building, - “Mac Donald's” - Dick and Mac McDonald

Role-modelling, - Nobel Laureates

External representation (spokes person) - Sir Winston Churchill

Expectations of and confidence in followers - Jesus Christ

Selective motive-arousal - Adolf Hitler

Frame alignment - Barack Obama - “Change You Can Trust”

Inspirational communication - Mother Theresa - “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless”

The examples of leaders I have mentioned does not predominantly mean a Leader's style, but the character which persuaded their followers on their style depends on their sole uniqueness.

(Adopted from: (Podsakoff, 1994).

Whilist keeping the above in mind, lets analyse some of the Leadership skills present in the shipping industry:

A person in a position or office - “Maersk Mc-kinney Moller”-A.P.Moller Group Founder

A person with associated expertise, skill or experience - ship's captain, a chief engineer.

A group of person in the forefront in any movement, field, activity.- A Naval Admiral

Global Head of Marine Technology for Lloyds - “Mr.John Carlton”

The earlier theories of leadership rejected the idea of Leaders where born, because they identified the leadership with the ability to influence and their styles to persuade others. A creative adventurous part of a leader is considered if he either has it or not?. If a blood analysis by Gene is carried out to findout if a person is a leader or not?, one would fail miserably in the analysis taking into account the complexity of the human mind to learn and develop itself, is well beyond science to slove in an equation.

Howerver a guidelines can be prescribed as :Developing people, being able to influence others, encouraging team work, empowering poeople, using multiple options of thinking, taking intelligent risks, being passonate about work, having a strong and clear vision, streaching one's personal creativity. So it is very much possible for a person to learn such skills in any enviornment which could be in a classroom, in a society, in a business, or in a work-place. The only obstacle is his or her mindset to learn and develop his or her skills.

“ Born to Lead” is a correct assesment, If everyone is born in a Royal Family, an elite group of people who thinks like scientists could become scientists, who thinks like Doctors could become Doctors, who thinks like LEADERS would become LEADERS. All one needs is the drive and motivation from their parents, societies and the urge to become a leader.To conclude my analysis : I would like to quote Vincent Lombardi (Football coach), “ Winners expect to win and losers expect to loose”, to compare and contrast a Born or a Made Leader is expected to win but not to loose. It is the skill of a leader which attracts his followers. So Leader- ship is taught “Made” but Leaders to some extent are “Born”, keeping the innate personalities that one may posses.

Conclusion:

Everyone is born with a ability to lead, the question is, to what level we can take our ability?. For example a mother bringing up a child is an ultimate form of leadership, where rearing, managing and instilling values in a child to some extent is leadership. So one may see leadership could some extent is very clear that it is born with a person.

Leadership can be learnt, the question of Leadership whether it can be taught to a person is a critical to be analysed upon!. The responsibilities lies within each indivial to learn leadership. So everyday a leader is born, keeping in mind every child who is born on Earth is a leader. Each one of them has to learn how to develop their skills of being a leader and learn where to apply the ability to lead and in what circumstances?.

A King or Queen who rules a monarch, would consider leadership in their blood. People have been accepting them as their rulers based on their blood line. I would like to quote Shakespeare's thoughts of leadership

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." - William Shakespeare

I would like to end my essay saying that the “born” argument doesnot take into account the effect that experience and learning has on personalities, behaviours and on our inner selves. Leadership is a skill and a habit. Like most skills “Practice makes man perfect”. As one becomes more skilled, the habit takes over. In hindsight, it is therefore clear that leaders are both born and made. Leaders may be born with genetic personality and intellectual predispositions, which give them the potential to become an effective leader. However as I have mentioned earlier a greatness of leadership can be derived from practicing the above mentioned skills. It is therfore clear that an interrelation of both genetics and learning, which builds a muliti dimentional leadership approach(Bass 1998: Yukl 1998), which creates leaders.

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