Question of the Day

Given that some people seem to be born with an innate gift to lead, a question

posed by one of the students, during an advanced leadership course, was unique to say

the least. He asked, “Are leaders born or developed?” The professor entertained the

question and redirected it to the class for discussion. Discussion ensued and soon the

polarity was quite clear with more landing on the side of “born” than “developed.”

Statements like, “either you got it, or you don’t” or “you do what you are” or “some are

just natural born leaders” were just a few of the comments floating around the

classroom.

The absurdity of the question, on the surface, was quite obvious because

everyone must be born, before they can be developed, but I decided to play along and

settled on the side of “developed.” I posited two points, first, people may be born gifted

for certain disciplines like academics, arts, or athletics making it easier for people to

follow them due to their naturally high level of competence and confidence, but that

doesn’t make them “natural born” leaders. Second, honing a birth gift is a self-focused

endeavor, but developing as a leader expands one’s thinking beyond self to one’s

impact and influence on others.

My point to the class was simple, a natural gift is inherently who I am, a gifted

person; but developed or underdeveloped leadership is what I serve. Come on, we have

all experienced people who stood head and shoulders above others compared to a

certain discipline, but who didn’t have the head, shoulders, or backbone to lead within

that discipline. Natural gifts go only so far, but developed leadership has no boundaries.

Leaders with highly developed leadership knowledge, skills and abilities can lead well in

any circumstance. Truth is that leaders are developed; and authentic leaders commit to

developing themselves intellectually and practically to serve the best leadership

possible to those they lead.

In light of the above, I am thinking that for those currently holding any leadership

position, the most important question of the day is, “Am I serving developed or

underdeveloped leadership?"