Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, COO at Zama.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Leaders are born, not made.” But in my years as a C-level executive, I’ve found that this represents a rather deterministic viewpoint about leadership, suggesting that the potential for leadership is an innate quality, somehow predetermined.
This notion, however appealing it may be, does not necessarily hold true in many cases. While some individuals may naturally exhibit certain characteristics that make them better suited to leadership roles, the art and science of leadership can be developed and refined through education, experience and intentional practice.
Debunking The Myth
In debunking the myth of the born leader, it’s essential to understand what leadership truly entails. Leadership is not merely about the exercise of power or the ability to inspire and influence others but also about making decisions, taking responsibility, managing resources and cultivating relationships. These skills and competencies are not always inherent but are often acquired through continuous learning and experience.
The belief that leaders are born negates the impact of various environmental factors and life experiences on leadership development. Often, people become effective leaders as they confront different challenges and situations that demand resourcefulness, resilience and adaptability. These experiences act as a crucible, forging the raw elements of potential into the tempered steel of true leadership.
Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership is the idea that managers can mentor and motivate employees to cultivate fresh ideas and novel approaches that advance a company’s trajectory. The model of transformational leadership further challenges the idea of “born leaders.” A transformational leader motivates and inspires followers to exceed their self-interest for the good of the organization.
This kind of leadership relies heavily on emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. These are attributes that can be learned and honed over time, irrespective of one’s natural predispositions.
In fact, leadership development programs worldwide are based on the premise that leadership skills can be nurtured. These programs incorporate various methods such as coaching, mentoring, leadership exercises and case study analyses, all aimed at enhancing a person’s leadership qualities. If leaders were only born, all of these programs would be irrelevant and ineffective.
For instance, research conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) found that experience, learning agility and leadership potential are more valid predictors of successful leadership than personal characteristics alone. Their findings suggest that with the right opportunities and motivation, people can develop the necessary skills and competencies to lead effectively.
Even naturally talented leaders need to refine their abilities and acquire new skills to stay effective in changing contexts. The rapid evolution of the business landscape, fueled by technological advancements, socioeconomic changes and now, the post-pandemic realities, necessitates a continual update of leadership strategies and approaches. No leader, no matter how naturally gifted, can rest on their laurels.
History As A Guide
History is full of examples of successful leaders who were not born into leadership but grew into their roles. Leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi experienced many failures and setbacks from which they learned valuable lessons that honed their leadership skills. They were not born leaders but became great ones through their lifelong learning and resilience.
Indeed, certain inherent qualities may make leadership come easier for some people. But these qualities are not the sum total of leadership; they simply provide a foundation upon which further development can occur. It is through the interplay of personal traits, learned skills and experiences that effective leaders are forged.
So, while some individuals may have a head start in leadership due to their natural dispositions, I believe asserting that leaders are born and not made is an oversimplification of the complex, multifaceted nature of leadership.
Instead, leadership is both a natural talent and a cultivated skill, a dynamic balancing act between inherent qualities and acquired competencies. Whether one is born with certain leadership qualities or not, it is the commitment to continuous learning and adaptation that shapes great leaders. Leadership, in its essence, is not a birthright but an ever-evolving journey.
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