Why Leaders Are Made Rather Than Born:

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Recommended: Leaders are not born but made according to trait and situational theories of leadership

According to Warren G. Bennis, "The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born -- that there is a genetic factor to leadership...That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born." (Bennis). Others starkly disagree with Bennis and hold to the opinion that leaders are born. The popular opinion of several psychologists is that leadership is an inherited characteristic, and those that don’t inherit this gift have no chance of developing it on their own. Contrary to the popular belief that leaders are born, I believe that leaders are made. Leaders are made because leaders come from all walks of life, people can become leaders at any point in their lives, people become better leaders over time, and the question in itself of whether or not leaders are born or made is detrimental.

According to the London School of Economics, leaders are seldom ever born (Varghese). Instead, leaders are those people who rise to the occasion and willing opt to lead given particular conditions. Bernard Bass theorized that under certain circumstances any person can be a leader (Varghese). At the same time, it is often thought that leadership characteristics are inherited. The problem with this theory is evident when presented with the research that shows only a slight connection between IQ tests and personality profiles that doesn’t distinguish leaders from non-leaders in any way (Varghese). So if intelligence and personality have no influence over whether or not someone is a leader, how can people possibly think that leaders are born? Whether or not someone is a leader is dependent solely upon the circumstances and the choices they make in regards to those circumstances. Leaders arise from all walks o...

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...or-made>.

Bennis, Warren G.. "Inspirational Quotes for Business and Work: Leadership." About. The New York Times Company, n.d. Web. 18 Nov 2011. .

Bock, Wally. "Are Leaders Born or Made?." Three Star Leadership. Wally Bock, 2006. Web. 21 Nov 2011. .

Riggio, Ronald E. "Are Leaders Born or Made? Why the Question Itself is Dangerous." Cutting-Edge Leadership. Psychology Today, 29 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. .

Varghese, Sangeeth. "Are Leaders Really Born?." Forbes. Forbes.com LLC™ , 11.29.07. Web. 17 Nov 2011. .

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