An age old question is are successful or true Leaders Born or Made? After 50 years of collecting data on the topic, most psychologists believe that leadership qualities are innate or genetic and thus impossible to learn. The "leaders are born" concept was mainly put in place to ensure the upper-classes continued domination of life and doesn't stand up to any close scrutiny. We've heard that before, but is it true?
The military people, on the other hand, believe that leadership can be taught and that if people are given the right opportunities then they can develop into effective leaders. So, leadership can be a learned skill that improves with experience & intention, do you agree?
If you have a great Leadership tip, story, findings or any personal experience to share, please do not hesitate to add your comments. Your contribution shall be highly appreciated. Thank you, and looking forward to receiving varied responses.
Best Wishes,
Adnan
From Pakistan, Karachi
30The military people, on the other hand, believe that leadership can be taught and that if people are given the right opportunities then they can develop into effective leaders. So, leadership can be a learned skill that improves with experience & intention, do you agree?
If you have a great Leadership tip, story, findings or any personal experience to share, please do not hesitate to add your comments. Your contribution shall be highly appreciated. Thank you, and looking forward to receiving varied responses.
Best Wishes,
Adnan
From Pakistan, Karachi
In the millions of words spoken about leadership, there is general agreement that leadership is independent of positional power or authority, though often the two run in parallel.
In any group of people working or living together for any period of time, various individuals will demonstrate a degree of leadership from time to time. This may because of a "natural tendency" to offer leadership, or perhaps because the individual has particular knowledge and experience with regard to specific matters. How that leadership is expressed is a function of the personality and confidence of the individual.
So the capacity for leadership is inherent in all of us. Some may stifle this capacity because of a lack of confidence or a lack of interest in contributing in this manner. However the capacity remains.
However, it is all too easy in a team environment to let someone else take the running with leadership. This is a "low risk" approach. The down side is that decisions are not as enriched when this happens.
The military are a good example of a system that developes the leadership capacity of a broader range of individuals. My hypothesis is that because the military (and similar organisational structures) operate with a clear procedural/operational framework, exercising leadership at an individual level is less "risky". Everyone knows what needs to be done in many situations, and are very aware of what is expected of individuals. Leadership here is a function of both procedural knowledge and expectation. It is a limited kind of leadership though as the opportunity for creative approaches is somewhat limited.
Fascinating topic!
<link outdated-removed>
Resume / CV Templates and Resources.
From Australia, Ballarat
In any group of people working or living together for any period of time, various individuals will demonstrate a degree of leadership from time to time. This may because of a "natural tendency" to offer leadership, or perhaps because the individual has particular knowledge and experience with regard to specific matters. How that leadership is expressed is a function of the personality and confidence of the individual.
So the capacity for leadership is inherent in all of us. Some may stifle this capacity because of a lack of confidence or a lack of interest in contributing in this manner. However the capacity remains.
However, it is all too easy in a team environment to let someone else take the running with leadership. This is a "low risk" approach. The down side is that decisions are not as enriched when this happens.
The military are a good example of a system that developes the leadership capacity of a broader range of individuals. My hypothesis is that because the military (and similar organisational structures) operate with a clear procedural/operational framework, exercising leadership at an individual level is less "risky". Everyone knows what needs to be done in many situations, and are very aware of what is expected of individuals. Leadership here is a function of both procedural knowledge and expectation. It is a limited kind of leadership though as the opportunity for creative approaches is somewhat limited.
Fascinating topic!
<link outdated-removed>
Resume / CV Templates and Resources.
From Australia, Ballarat
I agree! :)
To stretch the topic and discussion, I am adding three kinds of leadership. Members are welcome to add more.
The basic kind:
Thinking ahead and taking care of yourself. Being prepared for problems before they happen.
This is leadership by example. When people see you are prepared and confident, you get their respect. This kind of leadership is easiest—people learn from each other all the time.
The advanced kind: Thinking and planning for others. Getting groups of people to do things.
This kind of leadership involves taking responsibility for others. This means tougher planning—looking further ahead, thinking about larger numbers of people. This kind of leadership is stressful—you can burn out easily. Your limits will be tested. Communicating is important here—communicating to a group is different from communicating with one person.
The ultimate kind: Investing other folks with responsibility. Being a leader of leaders.
This type of leadership involves giving responsibility to others. You may have to live with problems that aren’t your fault. Someone will only do a complex job if they want to. Giving others responsibility is the best (and only) way to increase the power of the group beyond the limits of one person. This type of leadership demands the most intelligence and patience.
Source: Leadership Resources
Sincerely,
Adnan
From Pakistan, Karachi
To stretch the topic and discussion, I am adding three kinds of leadership. Members are welcome to add more.
The basic kind:
Thinking ahead and taking care of yourself. Being prepared for problems before they happen.
This is leadership by example. When people see you are prepared and confident, you get their respect. This kind of leadership is easiest—people learn from each other all the time.
The advanced kind: Thinking and planning for others. Getting groups of people to do things.
This kind of leadership involves taking responsibility for others. This means tougher planning—looking further ahead, thinking about larger numbers of people. This kind of leadership is stressful—you can burn out easily. Your limits will be tested. Communicating is important here—communicating to a group is different from communicating with one person.
The ultimate kind: Investing other folks with responsibility. Being a leader of leaders.
This type of leadership involves giving responsibility to others. You may have to live with problems that aren’t your fault. Someone will only do a complex job if they want to. Giving others responsibility is the best (and only) way to increase the power of the group beyond the limits of one person. This type of leadership demands the most intelligence and patience.
Source: Leadership Resources
Sincerely,
Adnan
From Pakistan, Karachi
saying leaders are born is confusing Charisma with leadership
leadership is a skill...and skills can be acquired.....u may have a knack for it...but u cant be born with a skill...
ther is an experiment by alan jabvoitz(i hope i got the spelling right)
he observed 5 similar traits in leaders
1 restlessness
2 self confidence
3 tendency to be a loner
4 need for independence
and i dont remember the 5th one
also, alan found the same cylce in the leaders he observed
1 early exposure to corporate life
2 trouble in school
3 problems with authority at work
4 need for taking risk and independence
5 bliss at entrepreneurship
BUT, there was another experiment done by someone named Brazeal
he said tht leadership depends on the environment
(argument for being made)
the inner environment...and the social environment.
my conclusion.
it is both!!!
LEADERS ARE BORN WITH THE QUALITY AND NEED TO POLISH IT.
example..playing the piano...its a skill....which u have to learn...u cant just take birth and strt playing the piano.
thts absurd
simillarly....u cant teach a monkey to be a leader....he must have tht charisma or tht quality in him
comments expected!!!
:wink:
From India, Mumbai
leadership is a skill...and skills can be acquired.....u may have a knack for it...but u cant be born with a skill...
ther is an experiment by alan jabvoitz(i hope i got the spelling right)
he observed 5 similar traits in leaders
1 restlessness
2 self confidence
3 tendency to be a loner
4 need for independence
and i dont remember the 5th one
also, alan found the same cylce in the leaders he observed
1 early exposure to corporate life
2 trouble in school
3 problems with authority at work
4 need for taking risk and independence
5 bliss at entrepreneurship
BUT, there was another experiment done by someone named Brazeal
he said tht leadership depends on the environment
(argument for being made)
the inner environment...and the social environment.
my conclusion.
it is both!!!
LEADERS ARE BORN WITH THE QUALITY AND NEED TO POLISH IT.
example..playing the piano...its a skill....which u have to learn...u cant just take birth and strt playing the piano.
thts absurd
simillarly....u cant teach a monkey to be a leader....he must have tht charisma or tht quality in him
comments expected!!!
:wink:
From India, Mumbai
Webster's defines a leader as simply being, a person or thing that leads. While leadership is defined as being the function or position of a leader, but it is more complex than that. Leadership is a behavior we exert when we take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
It is about being accountable when we assume responsibility for guiding others. Leadership is often the difference between success and failure. It is what separates the doers from the observers, and it is what gives positive direction to individuals and organizations.
I say leaders are made by US, with the help of society, nature, and under different circumstance!!!
This is an interesting debate :) Lets see what others have to say!
Diyaa
It is about being accountable when we assume responsibility for guiding others. Leadership is often the difference between success and failure. It is what separates the doers from the observers, and it is what gives positive direction to individuals and organizations.
I say leaders are made by US, with the help of society, nature, and under different circumstance!!!
This is an interesting debate :) Lets see what others have to say!
Diyaa
Community Support and Knowledge-base on business, career and organisational prospects and issues - Register and Log In to CiteHR and post your query, download formats and be part of a fostered community of professionals.
Great Leaders.pps