Are Great Leaders Born or Made?

Embarking on the age-old debate of whether leaders are born or made requires a nuanced exploration of the intricacies of leadership itself. Leadership goes well beyond influence. It encompasses guiding others towards a shared vision, making critical decisions under pressure, and embodying the change one wishes to see in the world. It's a multi-faceted role, and while some innate qualities (a phrase that I find dubious at best) may predispose individuals to leadership roles, the journey of becoming a leader is intensely developmental, shaped by experiences, learning, and personal growth.

Beyond the Born or Made Dichotomy

To dissect this question, it's imperative to understand that leadership isn't a one-size-fits-all label, nor is it a static trait that you either have or don't have. Leadership is dynamic. It evolves through life's experiences, challenges, and educational/developmental encounters. The journey of a leader is one of constant transformation, where personal and professional growth are intertwined, and where the lessons learned through trials and triumphs mold the leader's approach and effectiveness.

Nature vs. Nurture

As a social psychologist, I attend to both nature - those qualities that are seemingly innate - and nurture - the qualities that appear to have been developed. The reality of the nature vs. nurture debate is that it's extremely difficult to truly know if a personality or trait is something someone is born with or something they've learned. However, when it comes to leadership, I would argue that much of what leaders know is learned - through privilege, through exposure to powerful people, and to other leaders. This suggests that nearly anyone can learn to be a good leader.

Recognizing Leadership Potential

Some individuals exhibit leadership potential early on. These are the people who seem to naturally step up in group situations, who display a knack for making decisions, and who are charismatic in a way that draws others to them. These qualities—such as assertiveness, intuition, and empathy—serve as the foundation upon which leadership can be built. However, these traits alone are not enough to fully realize one's leadership potential. They are just a spark that, with the right development work, can ignite the flame of leadership. Whether these traits emerge as a function of biology, personality, or something else that they're born with, the reality is that they're not enough to make someone into an exceptional leader.

Shaping Leaders Through Life's Challenges

Leadership is often forged in the fires of adversity. It's through facing challenges head-on that individuals learn resilience, adaptability, and the importance of decision-making under pressure. These experiences are invaluable, teaching lessons that can't be learned through observation alone. When taken as lessons (and certainly, we've all seen people who don't learn from their experiences), they foster a deep understanding of oneself and others, highlighting the significance of empathy, communication, and the ability to unite a team under a common goal.

The Role of Education and Continuous Learning

Education plays a critical role in the making of a leader. This includes formal education, self-directed learning, experiential learning through new challenges and roles, and training that can come with working with an executive coach . Education broadens one's horizons, introduces new perspectives, and equips aspiring leaders with the skills necessary for effective leadership, such as strategic thinking, public speaking, and conflict resolution capabilities. Continuous learning - always being a work in progress - is the hallmark of great leadership, signifying a commitment to personal and professional development.

Accelerating the Leadership Journey

The influence of coaches and mentors in shaping leaders cannot be overstated. A mentor acts as a guide, offering wisdom gleaned from their own experiences, providing feedback, and encouraging reflection. This relationship not only accelerates the leadership journey but also helps in navigating the complex landscape of leadership challenges, ensuring that potential leaders do not have to face these hurdles alone.

A coach acts as a catalyst for personal and professional development, focusing on unlocking a leader's potential through structured guidance, challenging assumptions, and fostering space for growth. Unlike mentors, who often draw from their own experiences to guide, coaches often employ techniques that encourage leaders to find personal solutions to challenges, enhancing their problem-solving and decision-making skills. This approach helps leaders not only to refine their leadership capabilities but also to develop a deeper understanding of their own leadership style and how it impacts others. Together, coaches and mentors provide a comprehensive support system that is invaluable in cultivating effective, resilient, and visionary leaders.

Structuring the Path to Leadership

Leadership development programs play a useful role in transforming potential into reality. These programs, when done well, are tailored to address the specific needs and goals of aspiring leaders. They combine theoretical knowledge with practical application and offer a structured path for leadership development, encompassing skill-building workshops, leadership challenges, and opportunities for reflection and growth. As a coach, I've seen many of these programs in action and have also participated in their creation (contact us if you'd like help with yours). To be successful, leadership development programs must be crafted with intentionality, instructional design, thoughtfully created opportunities, and solid, professional coaching. Absent any of these foundational elements, programs fail to create favorable outcomes.

Cultivating a Leadership Mindset

Ultimately, becoming a leader is as much about cultivating a leadership mindset as it is about developing the requisite skills. This mindset is characterized by a vision for the future, a commitment to ethical values, and an unyielding determination to achieve goals. It involves embracing change, fostering innovation, and being willing to take calculated risks. Cultivating such a mindset requires introspection, a willingness to learn from failures, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Leadership as a Journey of Becoming

While some individuals may be born with traits that predispose them to leadership (and I have strong reservations about saying that), true leadership is made through a comprehensive journey of development. This journey is marked by continuous learning, personal growth, and the unwavering resolve to lead by example. It involves nurturing innate qualities, overcoming challenges, benefiting from mentorship, and engaging in lifelong learning.

Exceptional leadership is not actually a question of being born or made but a testament to the transformative power of dedicated development. It's about recognizing potential, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, and committing to the relentless pursuit of becoming a leader who inspires, innovates, and makes a lasting impact. Through this lens, we see that leadership is indeed a journey—a journey of becoming that each of us has the potential to embark upon, irrespective of our starting point.

Your Journey As A Leader

If you're a woman who's an aspiring leader or a leader, we have a group for you! Check out our Women's Professional Development Program to see if it's a good fit for you. With curriculum, community, and coaching, it has everything you need to level up and become the best leader you can be!