Are Leaders Born or Made

505 Words3 Pages
Are leaders born or made? This is the question that many are asked throughout their leadership mentorships and educations. I have already run into this question in several of my classes. I see it this way; leaders are both born and yet they are made. Yes, I believe that people are born with certain traits that make them a better leader. However, several people with these traits must then acquire other traits to mold into the ideal leader. The first thing that I think a leader is born with is their creative ability. People that disagree with the idea of a “born leader” can’t argue that people are born with different levels of creativity. I think to be a very successful 21st Century leader you must bear a great creative ability. Those born with a lower level of creativity start off with a disadvantage right away. Another example is those that have common sense. I believe that common sense is a necessity in a leader’s arsenal of tools. Everyone knows that there are people that are born with and without common sense. In order to make sound, simple decisions you need common sense as a basic guide for leadership. Some believe that common sense is an acquired trait, but I disagree and think that you are born with it. Once you have traits like creativity and common sense, you have a head start at becoming a leader. This doesn’t mean that becoming a successful leader will just be handed to you or that it will be a “cake walk”. You must do your part in putting all the assets together. Education is a big part of the acquired traits that you need. Starting in kindergarten, and sometimes even before, children learn how others react to decisions that they make. As the children grow and progress through the levels of school, they learn how to get people to react. If you look at the typical fifth grade class, there is always that one student that gets people to fight but
Open Document