Are leaders born or made?

Question

Are leaders born or made? What do you base this on?

Answer 1

Prince William and Harry of England have been born into being a leader. They have the royal blood of the monarchy, thus the family's position is that of a leader. Now just because you are born into a leadership position by definition doesn't make you fit to be one. Arguably, Prince Charles comfortably fits this line of thinking. Which leads me to the second part of your question. Leaders emerge because of the travails of life that forces them to lead or die. Sir William Wallace, the great Scotsman portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie "Braveheart" would be a useful example in mythic proportions. His story is etched in Scottish lore and history. And then their are people who are placed in a leadership position and don't have a clue. I will leave that explanation for another time. lol.

Peace.

Answer 2

one could argue that you are both born and made a leader. for example one is born into an environment which will shape them so in this instance they are both. They didn't choose to be born into their circumstances, but they were born with certain mental capabilities... thus they were born to handle the stress and born to adapt to the environment around them. If you put an unstable person in the same position as a stable one, siblings... why is it that Gandhi came first and not another member of his family, why was it JFK in that car that day and not his brother?

Answer 3

I think they are made and I'll tell you why. Everyone has it in them to become something greater than what they are. I think it has a lot to do with your upbringing as well as taking responsibility for your actions as an adult. We all have potential in us, but not everyone realizes their full potential due to past problems, abuse, circumstances that we don't want to or just cannot let go of. We all have the power to change ourselves for the better, but it's up to us to make that decision. No one else can do it for us. If every adult would ask themselves, "where do I want to be in 5 years, what do I want to accomplish?" then maybe they would realize that our present circumstances are a result of our past actions/behaviors/ideas. Leaders see who they can become and the impact they can make on society and look toward that future. I don't believe they are just born. Whatever circumstances they have faced have MADE them stronger. It's not always easy (never is) but they forgo temporary discomfort because they know what lies ahead and that keeps them going.

Answer 4

leaders are made. no one can be born and know the role of being a leader. someone has to make us that way.

Answer 5

dna and a little money always helps, but leaders learn to lead by watching others then by doing what they did to get the same results. Like they say "don't reinvent the wheel".

Answer 6

Leaders are made (I believe), we grow up and are influenced by our environment and experiences, it is how we use these that defines us as leaders or followers

Answer 7

both!