Is Leadership a Learned or Natural Process? Articles | Leadership

The existence of anything such as a natural born leader is easily subject to debate. We have heard statements alluding to the natural abilities of a leader, made at one time or the other. This theory seems to hold true with royalty. But in other cases are these assumptions true or are leaders developed through a learning process?

Any new parent of grandparent who looks at a newborn member of their family is quite likely to see greatness. The truth in reality is that no great plan or agenda is in motion. We are all born with character or traits which play a crucial part in our skills as well as our experience and our environment. Even when you consider people like Mozart, Monet, Elvis and Picasso, they weren’t all born as musicians and artists but they had the creativity and potential to become what they eventually turned out to be.

Some people may have the intelligence as well as the personality to be good or great leaders but they lack the abilities to capitalize and drive on their attitudes. History has shown that even though some people may be born into roles of leadership, this really doesn’t turn them into great leaders.

Leadership is a process by which we influence others. Charisma is often described as the ability to charm and influence people and it is a key to leadership as well. It is a trait and with charisma you have the power to attract attention and provide confidence as well. Charisma is something you have or you don’t and it must be combined with other traits in order to create a good leader.

Genetics may play a part in leadership. You may not be born to be a leader than you are born to be a farmer. Most people aren’t born to become leaders. They hate speaking out, making changes or having to resolve conflict and all these are obstacles that leaders must regularly cope with.

Can leadership be taught?

Universities teach leadership and the private industry invests money in leadership programs. Public schools also teach and provide leadership opportunities for youths as well. A huge amount of time, talent and money is spent on imparting leadership to people. Society has invested heavy amounts of money in leadership training and it may not be possible to automatically turn people into great leaders but you can supply them with the tools that they need to improve the leadership skills that they have. The individual has to add the other elements that are needed such as determination, communication, influence as well as the vision to lead others effectively.

The blending of the traits that your were born with and their development along with skills and experience eventually turn out to combine and give rise to great leaders.

Leaders however may come naturally. A cursory look at children playing together on the playground is testimony to the fact. One of these children will usually come forth with the ideas concerning what activity to carry out or what game to play and the other children will follow with this suggestion. Life tends to require and need leadership, someone has to create the decisions and others will follow. If leadership didn’t exist we might all be standing one by one alone and the essence of our existence lost.