LEADERSHIP: NATURE OR NURTURE?

One of humanity’s primary needs is to be led by a good leader. In line with this, the idea
whether leaders are born or made has been a constant debate, not only in the Philippines, but also
all around the world. Yet how does one define a good leader? According to Anderson (2015), “A
true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the
compassion to listen to the needs of others” – exactly what the Philippines need. Amidst the
multiple evidences leading to the idea of leaders being born and not made, many also believe
otherwise and this article is about to tell you why.

The Great Man and Trait Theories have always been the foundations of leaders who are
born for these theories state that great leaders are simply born with the necessary internal
characteristics that make them natural-born leaders and that people inherit qualities and traits
which make them better suited for leadership, respectively. Yet people tend to overlook the other
major leadership theories like the Behavioral Theory. This theory counters the claims of the Great
Man and Trait Theories by stating that people can learn to become leaders through teaching and
observation and focuses on the actions of leaders, not on their mental qualities or internal states
(Cherry, 2019).

In a study conducted by Deal, Gentry, Ruderman and Stawiski (2012), responses were
collected regarding whether people believe that leaders were born and results show that 52.4% of
the respondents are convinced that leaders are made, not born. Alongside this, 28.5% believed that
leaders are both born and made while the remaining 19.1% say that leaders are born, not made.
Some people say that leadership traits are inherited from ancestors but many oppose to this idea.
Family may play a huge role in a person’s life since it is considered as the environment a person
is often exposed to beginning from childhood yet needless to say, it is only one of the many factors
which influence a person’s development. Also, if leaders were solely born, what is the point of the
rest of us studying leadership or management? Leaders lacking leadership are useless and
leadership is a set of skills that can be learned by training, perception, practice and experience over
time (Hyacinth, 2014). One is not born immediately as a leader. It takes time for leadership skills
to be cultivated and visible. It is possible that a small percentage of individual traits which can
develop to leadership may already be within leaders once born, but the process of its growth can
be learned and often depends on how committed, interested and persevered an individual is in
doing so (Di Giulio, 2014). Besides, leadership is a choice.

Lastly, in a research by Di Giulio (2014), Hannah (2013) from the Wake University stated
that there are actually neurological differences present in the brains who had been indicated as
leaders. Contrary to this, a special ability of the brain is introduced. Neuroplasticity refers to the
ability of the neurons in the brain to forge new connections, to blaze new paths through the cortex
and to even assume new roles (Politi, 2011). In layman’s term, it means “rewiring the brain”. This
happens throughout the development of a person. This fact is a concrete evidence that leaders are
not entirely born but are literally molded in accordance to the situation and environment they are
in.

In conclusion, believing that leaders are born, not made, is almost similar to saying that
those who did not come from a known political bloodline have no chance to lead when in fact,
someone who is far from born into politics or leadership responsibilities can be a leader. Aside
from this, one must admit that an individual goes through a series of struggles and obstacles from
the moment he was born which will shape the future him. Regardless of that, it is important to
remember that before a man becomes a leader who can remake his society, the society makes him.

References:
Cherry, K. (2019). The Major Leadership Theories. The Eight Major Theories of Leadership. Retrieved
October 11, 2019 from https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-theories-2795323

Di Giulio, J. V. (2014). Are leaders born or made? Retrieved October 11, 2019 from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270684591_Are_leaders_born_or_made

Hyacinth, B. (2014, October 26). Are Leaders Born or Made? A True Story. Retrieved October 11, 2019,
from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141026042807-150905450-are-leaders-born-or-made-a-true-
story.

Muteswa, R. (2016). Qualities of a Good Leader and the Benefits of Good Leadership to an Organization:
A Conceptual Study, 8(24), 135–140. Retrieved October 11, 2019 from
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3200/04474366e21900ddb17de93e557f1531af42.pdf

Politi, J. W. (2011). Hammer's Hemisphere. Neuroplasticity: Your Brain and Leadership. Retrieved October
11, 2019 from https://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/neuroplasticity-your-brain-and-leadership