Many are of the view that leadership is innate, rather than cultivated through time and experience. In my opinion, leadership is largely more developed rather than gifted.
Those who believe that there are naturally born leaders point out the character of a person as a fixed quantity. There are certain individuals who display a natural charisma and inimitable capacity for command. A recent example of this would be Barack Obama. He is a naturally eloquent, stately, physically imposing presence and perfectly walks a fine line between warmth and firmness. Researchers have long identified common natural characteristics of leadership such as height, a deep voice, a strong chin and natural grace of movement. These cannot be developed to a significant degree and therefore support the claim that leadership is intrinsic.
However, great leadership is more deliberate than spontaneous. There are countless examples of individuals possessing all the physical characteristics of leaders who fall well short of inspiring people. An instructive example of this is Steve Jobs. Early in his career, he inspired people with his exceptional talent, but that had its limits as he pushed and demeaned employees ultimately leading to his ouster from Apple. This humbling experience led him to soften the sharp edges of his personality in the ensuing decade by considering other viewpoints and giving up more control to competent employees. These learned traits served him well when he become CEO of Apple again and reached what many regard as the pinnacle of leadership.
In conclusion, though the endpoint may obscure the origins, all leaders must cultivate their hubris to become great leaders. The long-standing assumptions about leadership must be challenged in order to put in place better institutional practices to mould future pioneers of industry and politics.
Many
are of the view that
leadership
is innate,
rather
than cultivated through time and experience. In my opinion,
leadership
is
largely
more developed
rather
than gifted.
Those who believe that there are
naturally
born
leaders
point out the character of a person as a
fixed
quantity. There are certain individuals who display a natural charisma and inimitable capacity for command. A recent example of this would be Barack Obama. He is a
naturally
eloquent, stately,
physically
imposing presence and
perfectly
walks a fine line between warmth and firmness. Researchers have long identified common natural characteristics of
leadership
such as height, a deep voice, a strong chin and natural grace of movement. These cannot
be developed
to a significant degree and
therefore
support the claim that
leadership
is intrinsic.
However
, great
leadership
is more deliberate than spontaneous. There are countless examples of individuals possessing all the physical characteristics of
leaders
who fall well short of inspiring
people
. An instructive example of this is Steve Jobs. Early in his career, he inspired
people
with his exceptional talent,
but
that had its limits as he pushed and demeaned employees
ultimately
leading to his ouster from Apple. This humbling experience led him to soften the sharp edges of his personality in the ensuing decade by considering other viewpoints and giving up more control to competent employees. These learned traits served him well when he become CEO of Apple again and reached what
many regard
as the pinnacle of leadership.
In conclusion
, though the endpoint may obscure the origins, all
leaders
must
cultivate their hubris to become great
leaders
. The long-standing assumptions about
leadership
must
be challenged
in order to put in place better institutional practices to
mould
future pioneers of industry and politics.