Are Leaders Born or Made?

Posted by Scott Williams
21 Comments
January 29, 2008
Leadership

As I am raising my children to be leaders and have had the opportunity to have leadership responsibility for well over a thousand people in my lifetime; I have always pondered this difficultly-simple question.  That question is “Are Leaders Born or Made?”   

I know that God has uniquely wired each of us with specific DNA; however I find myself instilling things into my sons that will prepare them to be the next generation of leaders and world changers.  At the same time I find myself reflecting on my life and those God moments that sculpted me into who that I am today. 

There is a lot of empirical research that supports several answers to this question; those answers conclude that leaders are: Born, Made and Both.  I don’t know if it’s that obvious. 

I read a quote in an article that said: “Some people are born to move and shake the world.  Their blessings include: high energy, exceptional intelligence, self confidence and a yearning to influence others.” 

What do you think; are leaders born or made?  Discuss!

  • http://www.unveilinghope.com Hope

    I would say it’s both. I believe that we were all created to be leaders and disciples. The problem is that if we’re not discipling how can we be effective leaders? Looking into someone else’s life, taking the time to encourage them and see the very best God has placed in them has to be acknowledged. People rarely see their own goodness. A leader sees and acknowledges these things and encourages them, walks alongside of them and before you know it a leader is “re-born”. Had my mentor never taken the time to disciple me, I would have remained in my shell, born of the womb but not of the spirit. She lead; I followed. She taught; I watched. She watched; I did. I did; she watched. Another disciple was born and as a result another leader was born.

  • http://www.manymeadows.blogspot.com Robin Meadows

    I like this question. We tell our kids they are all leaders and have tried to train them in that. They may not all be “movers and shakers” (because of personality), but they can ALL be leaders in their scope of influence.

  • http://princessjes.wordpress.com princessjes

    I’m with Robin! We all are leaders, those we influence may vary.

  • http://cindybeall.wordpress.com Cindy Beall

    Both. Chris Beall is a born leader – it comes naturally to him. I am not a natural leader. However, people have looked to me over the years to lead in different situations and it takes A LOT of work for me to lead.

  • slowtraincoming

    I think I heard this from John Maxwell: During a tour of Italy, a group of tourist were out in the country visiting small townships and villages. In one small town a woman asked an old man sitting on a bench in his viilage, “Sir, were there any great leaders born here?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.” Cool story! I think everyone is born. And I think everyone can become a leader, to some extent. Obviously, some have greater influence than others. I may never lead thousands like Warren, or Hybels, or Stanley, but I can lead myself. And then my family and friends; and then whoever God puts in my life.

  • http://lovelypearls.wordpress.com libbymyrin

    I have to agree about both. You can get into the nature vs nurture debate, but God obviously gave us gifts and abilities to use in certain ways. My husband is a born leader – he has been put in respected leadership positions by his peers, not by his own effort. I believe I have a different style of leadership, which is useful in certain circumstances. I also strongly believe experiences and actually each day can impact one’s leadership ability and style.

  • http://patricksievert.wordpress.com Patrick Sievert

    It’s kind of like a baseball player… You may be a natural, blessed with incredible talent. But if you never pick up a bat or glove, you won’t make it to the majors…

  • Roger

    Leader is too broad of a word for your question. I think there are 2 (if not more) totally different types of leader. The Structural Leader which could be any retail manager. He is the one that can navigate a maze or point his team in the right direction. He keeps what has already been working, working.
    The Inspirational Leader, we all know one of these guys. They create the maze. They see where things are going before they start. They do not know what status quo is.
    Structural leaders can be made, see it all the time.
    Inspirational Leaders are born no chance they are made. It may take them a long time to find the passions that allows them to be an Inspirational Leader but you can’t teach someone that. It is just in them.

  • http://littlepastor.blogspot.com JC

    That’s a hard one. Some are more inclined to leadership by their God-given gifts and talents; but not having the gifts of leadership come natural don’t exempt us from servant leadership. Leadership has always come easier to me than to most people, and I’ve often grown frustrated by others proclamations that they are NOT leaders because God made them that way. We all lead in different ways. Either born or made/created/shaped…

  • http://www.blog.aaronhavens.com aaron

    it’s both.
    Personal drive is hard to teach.

    Great job leading your family Scott

  • http://www.blog.aaronhavens.com aaron

    where’s my link big man?
    No love

  • http://i-am-catalyst.blogspot.com Antwon J. Davis

    hmmm….

    This reminds me of a quote that I heard of that was a little sarcastic. It went something like, “Leaders are born just like doctors are born. How else do they come into the world (lol)?” I thought that quote was rather funny, but in light of the topic at hand, I believe that people are born with the potential to be leaders, doctors, lawyers, pastors, etc. Within the course of life, our gifts and abilities are developed and strengthened into who God has predestined us to be. I don’t necessarily think that a child comes out of the womb as a leader, but as potential to become whoever God has destined them to be. I think about Martin Luther King Jr. and I am sure he may have never thought that he would be the man we respect him as today. He had potential, but it wasn’t until life circumstances help to mold that potential into who God had destined him to be. I “do” believe that we are born, not with occupations and career paths, but with potential. And whether or not we make use of our potential is on us. Many die and never come to realization as to who God destined them to be = wasted potential. That’s my take. :-)

  • Scott Williams

    Great comments, takes and perspectives…. I am enjoying the diversity in thought.

  • http://www.ichilly.typepad.com Chilly

    As in dog-sledding, unless you’re the lead dog, the view never changes.
    - in other words, spend your life running with wide-eyed vision or spend it chasing, staring at (and sniffing), the backside of someone else. Is there really an option??
    - of course there are some who lead multitudes and others individuals… that’s God’s decision. We are to be available and obedient to His call and yeah, we’re ALL called.
    - leading (yep, there’s the word) someone to Christ is the ultimate position of leadership – and we can all do it!! Go for it, LEADER!

  • http://boffthewall.wordpress.com Brooke

    I always try to answer before reading other comments so it doesn’t sway my thinking, but sometimes it’s so hard! People on here are wise…:-)

    I think that the answer is both, but with a little less both and a little more towards being born a leader. A natural leader’s whole makeup comprises of characteristics a leader needs and because of that i think they are drawn to/and or put into situations where they can truly lead. You can’t really change a person, some people just aren’t very outgoing or in your face. I do agree that you can teach or train people though, but still that can only go as far as the person is willing to take it. I don’t know, you can just tell the difference between someone who IS a natural leader from someone who tries hard and wants to be a leader, but they have to work a little harder at it. It’s like some people fly through school and barely need to study, while others study for hours just for a single test.

  • http://tentmakin.blogspot.com Kyle P.

    Walter Henrichsen wrote a book entitled “Disciples Are Made Not Born.” The entire premise of this amazing book was that Jesus saw the world through his disciples. He intended for the world to come to know Him through the efforts of these 12 men once He was gone. Were they born leaders? I would say not. Were they born for leadership? Yes, but not without being molded and shaped into the instruments Christ had in mind for them to be. If you want to up your game for Christ, read this book!

  • Scott Williams

    Chilly- Dog sleding hmmmmm Good Thoughts.
    Brooke- I agree w/ the wisdom of the readers. Are you thinking some people are naturally smart and some are naturally leaders?
    Kyle- I am always looking forward to a good book. I will pick it up.

  • http://knowgreaterlove.org/wordpress1 Avery

    Jesus would be disqualified by most leadership standards of this day and age…

    His disciples would probably be ignored and put in the loony bin too…

    I think we need to re-evaluate what it means to be a leader…

    It might change who we vote for, eh?

    A leader is not the one that gets the popular vote, but the one that gets God’s vote…

    The results of a godly leader stand and fall on God’s provision, and the results of godly leadership belong to God…

    Just ask Noah..

    But I have always thought differently about things like leadership, and effectiveness, and how they are given and taken since the day I got saved 12 years ago…

    I’m just wierd I guess…

  • http://knowgreaterlove.org/wordpress1 Avery

    I wanted to add, that I have been training my children in the way they should go…

    They are leaders…

    But not the type of leaders the world looks with pleasure on…

    There isn’t a friend they have that hasn’t heard the gospel from their lips… and that they haven’t supported, forgiven, and blessed instead of cursed…and reached out to the lowly and despised…

    They will take last seat and lift another up…

    They devote themselves to blessing others…

    Unfortunately that type of leadership means they get rejected… and that they get last most often, and are overlooked because of their unwillingness to boast, or to flaunt and make a name for themselves…

    They know that is left for Christ and doesn’t belong to them…

    They are leaders… but their leadership is otherworldly, for another place… and so are the effects of their leadership…

    Anywho, just wanted to add the context of a different perspective from a wierdo!

  • http://www.headyco.com Yhonce aka Heady

    I would say both as well. However, I would like to use the word developed instead of made. In Joshua 1:8 it uses the word success which is achieved by being consistent in God’s word and in the Strongs you see words such as: to be, intelligent, expert, instruct, wisdom, wise, and so on which I think all make up a GREAT leader + some. Plus, God has given us all the ability to lead people to Christ so in some way we can all be leaders. Well, after reading all the great comments, I thought I would add my two cent. Let God’s love impact your life my friend. GREAT BLOG!

  • Scott Williams

    Avery & Heady breakin’ it down, that’s what I’m talking about!

Designed by EightDay Studio. Powered by the Standard Theme. Developed by Milk Engine.