No matter where you find yourselves, you need leaders because they set the objectives, lead the paths, and ensure success. Admittedly, any group without a leader is one that discharges its duties aimlessly. Just like the Messiah is in charge of leading the Christendom towards salvation (and finally Heaven), or Gautama Buddha who led his followers as a philosopher, mendicant, meditator, spiritual teacher, and religious leader in Ancient India: so is any well-structured business organization better off with good leadership towards a successful goal.
But, there are a lot of arguments as to whether leaders are born or trained. This is mostly an academic debate…
So, are leaders really born or trained?
Well, even though mischievous entities may try to no avail to debate why leaders are born, it is absolutely preposterous to harbour such a lame assertion. This is because leadership is actually learned overtime! Who comes out of his or her mum’s womb with already stored memory of how to strive in businesses, churn out effective communication skills, or order affairs of an ailing corporation towards a successful peak? Even if such cases exist, it may be quite rare.
Leadership is a set of skills that can be learned by training, perception, practice and experience over time. Sane leadership learning is a lifetime activity. Ideally, good leaders seek out development opportunities that will help them learn new skills in order to be a good example to his or her followers.
Admittedly, some believe that true leaders are born that way—naturally charismatic, influential, and inspiring individuals who are destined to make a mark (just like the late Jerry John Rawlings’ and how his charisma influenced some Ghanaians). But while certain people may be naturally predisposed to leadership, just as they’re naturally predisposed to athleticism or musicality, it’s absolutely possible to nurture the characteristics and skills necessary to call yourself a leader. As legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi once said; “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” (Quora.com)
If a survey were to be duly conducted with a significantly high hypothetical sample as to whether many people have ever had their leadership skills straight from birth without any pint of timely and deliberate assistance from a teacher, colleague, or boss, it may be quite cumbersome to ascertain such claims. To this effect, it’s just obvious that good leaders have always been those who have gone through the mill — having had various mentors, role models, and tutors to guide them throughout some leadership expertise such as democratic ones, laissez-faire, autocratic style, authoritative style, pacesetting style, coaching style, affiliative style and what have you.
So, supposing the issue of leaders been trained or born is ever raised then the former carries more weight than the latter.
