I never really like the word ‘or’ in questions. Most of the time, I find the answer lies somewhere in the middle and not at either extreme as presented. With that mindset, I suggest we look at this as a spectrum, and I will examine both sides of the question, as well as what the middle might look like.
First, let’s look at what it would be like if leaders are born. This implies that genetics play a big role in this, and this is the ‘nature’ side of the nature vs. nurture argument. There are some truths to this; in history, looking a certain way or being male might make you more likely to have more opportunities to lead. While someone not in those demographics might be a good leader, they never get a chance to lead, making those skills mostly worthless.
When thinking about leaders being born, one of the first things I thought of was personality types. I personally enjoy looking up things about the Myers-Briggs test, so I will pull some from that in this argument. Certain personality traits might make someone less likely to be a good leader. You could be over-controlling and a micromanager, you could be easily stressed when things don’t go exactly right, or you could even be so shy you might not be willing to correct others. With all of these things in mind, I think genetics and personality – traits we are born with – do, in fact, play a role.
Secondly, let’s look at what it would be like for leaders to be made. That implies to me that they seek out guidance – perhaps even development courses during their time at college – to further their abilities. They learn from experiences, including successes and mistakes, and grow from each of those in order to become a more efficient and effective leader.
Within this, though, you have to think about the people mentioned above that might be really great leaders if only given a chance. Maybe there is someone that isn’t fortunate enough to take the classes or have the experiences or opportunities. Perhaps this person is naturally good at leading their family or friends, but could fine-tune their skills if only given a chance.
With all of that in mind, I propose that the answer to this is simply; both. I think that certain personality traits can help make someone a better leader, including empathy, unwavering in their morals, and an encouraging personality. I think if people are given more instruction and more opportunities, they are more likely to be a better leader. This combination of being born with a knack for leadership and opportunity to grow in your abilities can make somebody a truly great leader.
Unfortunately, not everyone has that. Does that automatically mean that they are a bad leader because they don’t have the right traits or the right opportunities for growth? Absolutely not. I believe people lead in many varying capacities, and I think most everyone can excel at leading in some scenario. They might not be able to handle being the CEO of Amazon, but perhaps they could be great at organizing their groupmates for a big group project. Leadership, like many ‘or’ questions in this world, is a spectrum, and I think many are able to succeed at it if they are able to find their project to lead.
Amanda Roach 