Are Leadership Qualities Innate or Learned?

The debate about whether leadership qualities are innate or learned has been ongoing for many years. Some people believe that certain individuals are born with the potential to become great leaders, while others believe that leadership skills can be acquired through training and experience. In this article, we will explore both sides of the argument and examine the evidence for each.The Theory of Leadership Traits, or the Big Man Theory, states that good leaders are born, not made. This theory was first proposed by Scottish historian and philosopher Thomas Carlyle in the 19th century.

He argued that influential figures such as Napoleon and Alexander the Great were successful because of their inherited ability to lead others. According to Carlyle, these individuals had certain innate qualities that gave them high leadership potential.On the other hand, some experts believe that anyone can become a better leader through training and experience. They argue that even if someone does not have all the innate qualities of a leader, they can still become better leaders through additional training. Self-government leaders ensure they are part of the solution by taking initiative and having the discernment to know when something can or cannot be done.Ronald Riggio believes that all leaders have both innate and developed qualities.

He suggests that a combination of social, environmental and psychological factors can lead to the development of intelligence, business acumen, perseverance and other traits or qualities necessary for successful leadership. He also argues that experience is required to possess a range of leadership attributes.Schools are an ideal place to cultivate these qualities and turn each child into notable leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. However, it is important to note that while all of these qualities can be learned to become a better team player, they cannot be mastered to become leaders.To conclude, it is clear that both innate and learned qualities play an important role in successful leadership. While some people may have certain innate qualities that give them high leadership potential, most experts agree that experience is required to possess a range of leadership attributes.

Furthermore, schools are an ideal place to cultivate these qualities and turn each child into notable leaders.