Are great leaders born or made?
An interesting debate happened in the Management and Leadership Learning Club in our studio today. One member mistakenly quoted “Great leaders aren’t born, they are made”. Some members are not convinced. “Yes, to become a leader, you can be trained. But to truly become a great leader, you need to be born with particular talents or traits” - they said.
That got me to think a lot. Research some more. And even changed my mind. Here’s my conclusion:
First, all skills and professions have some favorable traits
Basketball? Physical height. Programming? A logical mind. Driving? Sense of space.
Leadership? Future-thinking, Adaptability, Perseverance, Socializable, Self Confidence.
People with natural talents enjoy a definite advantage
- They naturally got into the field easier, earlier
- They achieve early success faster
- Their practice is more efficient
↦ It becomes a positive feedback loop, and that’s one of the most powerful forces in the world.
But everyone can achieve goodness with practice
Practice is something that you control, regardless of what you’ve been born with.
Functional mastery is achievable. Not everyone can be an F1 racer, but everyone can learn to drive. Not everyone can be the next Elon Musk, everyone can be a good leader that helps their team to succeed.
Consistent practitioners beat lazy natural talents, all the time. Practice always maximizes the potential of what you’re “born with”.
Many “traits” for leadership are not biological but mindset or skills that can be reshaped by new beliefs, experiences, and efforts. Self Confidence? You can work on that. Adaptability? You can work on that. Socializable? I am working on that.
In the end, are leaders born, or made?
While all people are born capable of being a leader, yes, some people are blessed with the natural fit to move faster and achieve legendary greatness.
That should not be stopping you from becoming a leader. That should not stop you from investing in potential future leaders around you. Goodness is earned through mindset shifts, determination, and practices. The world needs more courageous people who set good visions and invite others to join the force and make them a reality.
All leaders are born to be made.
