Grant, fully agree. Thanks for the comment.

I would propose that it is a combination of both.
As a former soldier and section commander in the Australian Army, I can say that good leadership can result from good leadership training and the right environment to encourage good leadership.
However, some people ‘ave it and some people simply do not.

So, I conclude that there is an innate leadership potential in many, but not all, people but this needs to be cultivated by good training, experience and mentoring.

Grant

There is no arguing with vince

There you have it, the definitive answer from the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers

Dave, i also thought about sports men and its too that some people are just born with natural talents, and it it tough if you don’t have them.
But hard work will definitely help you improve and if you work hard enough you can out perform naturally talented people if they don’t practice and improve their skills.

One question i often think about is, what would have become of churchill if there had been no WWII, or Gandhi if he had not been thrown off the train in South Africa which is often sighted as the turning point for him, would they have still achieved greatness.
As the saying goes, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.

Are Leaders born or made? Do they become great leaders though determination, opportunity, chance or circumstance? I think it’s a big question to answer. You may as well ask if a world class sportsman is born to win. Maybe the answer is too fatalistic.

Sure, you can develop skills, awareness knowledge and understanding to become good at most things. But only a select few become truly great. They have a jena se qua.

It has to be this way. A world full of great leaders would be a boring and conflicted place.

However, everyone can develop and improve with the right support, guidance and desire to be successful. Being a good leader is a worthy goal. You may even become great. At the very least you should take something from leadership principles, think, and become the best you can be.

Jay fully agree with you. Also i have to admit to being a first born and i do think it makes a difference – probably my first leadership experience 🙂

However, if leaders cannot be made there are multiple institutions, such as the US Marines corp, investing lots of money in futile approach.

Last comment is that birth order plays a role. This is scientifically proven. Forgot where I saw it, but studies have shown that first born children tend to achieve the higher leadership positions, on average.

Chao! Jay