Are Leaders Born Or Made? An Expert Advice And Views

Are leaders born or made? This question has been the subject of discussions and will still be as much as we remain logical and rational beings. However, If we’re, to be honest with ourselves, as opposed to defending a particular stand to suit our individual perspectives and predispositions, you will agree with me that we’ve all known born leaders and leaders who were made.

In this article, we’ll logically analyze the idea of leadership while giving an unbiased standpoint on whether leaders are born or made.

Table of contents

Who Is A Leader?

A leader is someone who sees how things can be improved and who rallies people to move toward that better vision. They work towards making visions a reality while putting people first. A leader guides, directs, and instructs himself, first and then the followers.

According to myfuture.edu.au, a leader is someone who does the right thing. They prefer so not because someone is looking or might notice, but because it’s the right thing to do at that time. The mark of a true leader is usually proven during challenging circumstances.

SEE ALSO: 15 Smart Ways on How to Deal With a Difficult Boss in 2023

What Are The Qualities Of A Good Leader?

There are noticeable qualities of a good leader. These qualities distinguish them from their contemporaries who don’t hit the pass mark.

A leader is someone who does the right thing at the right time. They choose so not because someone is looking or might notice, but because it’s the right thing to do. And this often occurs in difficult or demanding circumstances.

While everyone may have their definitions and concepts of leadership, here are some of the key qualities of a good leader:

  • Honesty and ethical behavior
  • Commitment to outcomes
  • Passion, energy, and enthusiasm
  • Willingness to do the dirty jobs
  • Ability to encourage and support others
  • Take responsibility
  • They focus on developing others
  • They encourage strategic thinking, innovation, and action
  • Give recognition to others for their efforts and achievements
  • Master the act of communication
  • A good leader is empathic
  • Courageous
  • They lead by example
  • Optimism

While successful leaders may exhibit any of these leadership qualities in varying degrees, all good leaders leverage at least some — or most — of these characteristics.

READ ALSO: 10 Ways To Overcome New Job Anxiety And Boost Your Work Confidence Daily

Are leaders Born or Made?

There are those individuals who have possessed the charisma and presence since their childhood days, combined with the ability to make good decisions. Out of self-awareness, practice, and conscious efforts, some have watched themselves grow into leaders.

While these variables might be singularly inclusive, there is a need to holistically balance the equation. According to hrzone.com, the ability to expertly lead, motivate and direct a group of people – whether it is in business, sport, or politics – requires a very elaborate set of skills, mainly acquired through experiences, self-development as well as access to subsequent training. This means that to become a leader, you need to master the act of leadership, which is harnessed and nurtured as time goes by.

Irene Asare shares on her LinkedIn that “Good leaders are born with innate characteristics and traits however great leaders are made through their daily deliberate and relentless actions, life experiences, continuous learning and self-development practices.”

The first step to genuine leadership is self-awareness. Knowing your areas of weaknesses and strengths as an individual will help you grow into the leader you desire to become.

So, whether you were born with the ”leadership sauce” or not, if you want to be a leader you need to work, develop and refine the characteristics of a great leader.

Read on to learn some of the specific traits of a true leader and how to apply them in our day-to-day life.

YOU MAY WANT TO SEE THIS: How To Ask A Stupid Question In An Interview Without Sounding Foolish

What Are The Traits of a Good Leader?

The best type of leader, whether born or made, is one who has over time, developed the following distinctive traits:

#1 A Clear, Achievable Vision

True leaders have the capacity to develop a clear and achievable vision. They have the ability to translate vision into reality. By having the capacity to develop a big vision, you will be able to motivate, inspire the other teammates. This aspect of leadership requires not only a passion for the vision but the clarity to communicate it and the intelligence and experience necessary to execute it.

To hone this skill, you can start by setting a clear vision for yourself, creating a vision board, and drafting actionable steps to help you achieve those goals.

#2 The Ability to Influence and Inspire

True leaders have the ability to influence and inspire others. Knowing fully well that it takes a team to achieve great success gives leaders the conviction to rally for teammates who will key into his or her visions and goals.

This trait is mastered by having a clear picture of where you want to get to, who you need to get there, things to be done to get there, and mastering how to communicate it well to others.

#3 The Capacity to Adapt

A leader, by experience, should be able to adapt to changes that arise from circumstances and inevitabilities. In leadership, change should not be seen as an obstacle but as a chance to be inventive, adaptable, and decisive. It is in these circumstances that a true leader is expected to make big decisions.

#4 The willingness to accept and take responsibility

As a team leader, you need to take responsibility not just for yourself and your work but also for the job, attitude, and accomplishments of others.

Being a leader necessitates that you not only show your team where to go and what to do, but also encourage them, answer questions, track progress, and provide motivation.

In the face of failures and uncertainties, it is also the duty of the leader to own up and take responsibility on behalf of the team.

READ ALSO: Laid Off vs Fired! What are the Implications and Definitions

#5 The desire to learn and grow

A constant desire to learn and grow is an important personal and professional trait, whether you want to be a leader or not.

Leaders are curious, open-minded, and invested in their growth—the best of them always strive to improve.

#6 Great Leaders Keep A Positive Attitude

Good leaders maintain optimism and are long-term thinkers. Average thinkers think only about the present, and about immediate gratification.

To tick the scorecard as a great leader, you need to think about where you want your team to be in five and ten years and what they have to do each hour of each day to make their desired futures a reality.

Great leaders motivate other people, their friends, customer, associates, and even their children because they are inspired themselves. They are enthusiastic about the possibility of creating an exciting future for themselves.

Conclusion

Leadership is not peculiar to any skin, tribe, gene, race, or body. Leadership is cultivated. Though there are individuals that possess the leadership traits, if it is not well harnessed, nurtured, and explored their leadership capacities will be questioned.

References

We Also Recommend

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like