Are Leaders – born or made?

The most argumentative and the most widely researched  topic in the field of leadership is – if the leaders are born or made. As on today, the  resultant phenomenon of the widely done research is neutral, with few of the researcher’s  supporting the former assumption while few supporting the later one. The critical point in  the discussion had been the genetical influence on an individual which makes him/her a  leader. Although, it is not deniable that few leaders the world has seen were born to rule,  however, I would like to give my opinion in regards of the later i.e. Leaders are made. The basic feature which defines a leader is – Intelligence.  Every individual born is blessed with intelligence, it is just how one groom one’s  intelligence level and put in to the best use which makes him/her a leader. Besides,  intelligence there are many more characteristics which an individual needs to inculcate in  oneself to become an inspirational leader. These characteristics include strong will and  determination towards achievement, influencing the people’s mind and actions, highly  self motivated, possessing skills and talents and nourishing and nurturing them at  regular time periods. All these features and many more added to them turns a simple  individual into a leader. The leadership skills and talents could be either adopted or learnt  by one whilst moving ahead at different spheres of life. A stabilized ongoing  development of the intellectual growth and enhancement of various skills and talents at  different levels of an individual development plays a pivotal role in the making of a great  leader. Today’s world has seen a large number of leaders in  different spheres. As Shakespeare puts in â€Å"Some are born great, some achieve greatness  and some have greatness thrust upon them†. No single conclusion could be deprived on  the formation of these leaders. It is essential for a person to realize and recognize the  traits they possess at earlier later stages in life and later enhancement of these traits would  result in utilizing them optimally throughout the life. A consistent approach towards  grooming ones skills and talents besides developing intellectual growth would be the  most efficient source to become a great leader. Adopting different leadership traits while  working would also prove to be beneficial. Experience would definitely get counted in as  positive in leadership development. Leadership is not only determined by the character and  capacities of the leader, but definitely also by the followers: if there are no followers  there is no leader. Empowerment, ownership and curiosity are the features which ones  derived evolves leadership in every individual (Lance, 2004). All the features discussed  so far could be easily adopted by any normal sound minded individual. No hard and fast  rules are required to adopt them and no genetical attributes are needed to acquire them –  it is just an individual’s strong will and determination over becoming a leader which  would turn him/her into a great leader. Thus, I conclude, stating although a large number  of leaders are termed as born – leaders, yet there work and experience have made them  leaders in actual sense. REFERENCES: à   Adair, John. 1998: Leadership Skills. CIPD Publishing à   Covey, Stephen. R. 2004: The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. Simon & Schuster Publishers à   Secretan, Lance. 2004: Inspire! What Great Leaders Do. John Wiley & Sons Publishers. à   Zenger, John. H. 2002: The Extraordinary Leader: Turning Good Managers into Great Leaders. McGraw –Hill Professional Publishers.