Leaders: Born or Made

Leaders: Born or Made?

I have heard this question a lot of times it is one of the questions which are usually asked from American Program. Earlier I could definitive answers supporting both concepts. But perhaps the answer to whether leaders are born or made is not as simple as a true/false statement. Truly great leaders are both born that way and made that way. However, it is not always an equal division between the two essential parts, and it’s unique to each leader or potential leader.

In order for a leader to be born that way, there must be something in his personality that propels them toward action and encourages them toward a positive, productive change. As a person grows and matures, the natural instincts of a leader, such as gathering people, personal confidence, knowing when to speak, begins to make an appearance.

For some people the majority of leadership skills are developed through a natural progression based on personality, interests, and natural skills. It does not matter how small that natural leadership nature is in a person. As long as he has it, that person has the potential to become a great leader.

In order to best complement someone’s natural propensity to be a great leader, one needs to be made a great leader. This can be accomplished through education and experience. For some, it may come down to trial and error. For others, it is more trial and less error. Either way, both experiences make each person a greater leader than they could have been without those experiences. For those will a smaller natural instinct for leadership, this portion is the most important. It can take years to build up the knowledge and experience-base to become a great leader, but that is the way it should be—it takes patience, practice, and perseverance.

This idea of being both born and made leader means that nearly everyone has that potential to become the leader. Even just the desire to be a great leader is enough, as that is a part of your internal desires, placing you in the category of being born a leader or the potential to be a great leader, at least. With the simple desire or yearning, you can then devote yourself to bettering yourself and your leadership skills through workshops, positions at varying levels with any given company, and then trying your own hand at leadership. Only through practice and a willingness to acknowledge your weaknesses and improve upon them will make you a great leader.

A great leader is both born and made. Both parts are essential to a true leader. You may be numbered among those who find leadership easy, natural, and comfortable without much effort. Even if you do, you cannot progress to your full leadership potential without pushing yourself, your knowledge, and your professional limits. Most people have the ability to become great leaders. Few, however, have the discipline, dedication, and self-honesty to make it happen at its highest level.