Are you a natural leader? Is there such a thing?
The debate whether leaders are born or made has been waged for many years. The question centers around how various leadership qualities are acquired. Perhaps a more pressing question for hopeful leaders is, if they don’t inherently have the needed core skills, can they be learned?
The answers, while not endorsed unanimously, are based on a number of observed realities. Of the many skills required to lead well, it’s hard to imagine anyone being born with them all; they are too intricate and diverse for one personality. Most experts agree that a number of leadership attributes require experience to possess.
Dr. Ronald Riggio sums it up well in his article for Psychology Today, Leaders: Born or Made? He points out that research reveals all leaders have qualities that are both inborn and developed. In other words, it takes a certain type of person to fit the leadership mold, and that person must learn skills in addition to any that come naturally. Data reveals that leaders are split, with approximately one-third being “born” and two-thirds being “made”. What this means is that one-third rely most heavily on the skills they are born with, while two-thirds rely most heavily on the skills they develop. Which category do you fall into?
At the core, the question centers on how various leadership qualities are acquired. Are the best leadership abilities innate, or are they learned? Does it matter?
As a leader, you can benefit in a number of ways by assessing your skills. For example, begin by asking yourself a few assessment questions:
- Which leadership skills, or traits, come naturally for you?
- How did these play a part in your transition into leadership?
- Which of your skills did you develop, either by experience or dedicated training?
- How have these enhanced your effectiveness as a leader?
What do you think? Can core leadership skills be learned? I’d love to hear from you. You can call me at 561-582-6060, let’s talk. And as always, I can be reached here or on LinkedIn.
