Are Leaders Born, Or Made?
I have always appreciated the responsibility and opportunity to be a part of developing leaders. Not only do I get the opportunity to raise my boys to be leaders, but I’ve had the opportunity to have leadership responsibility for many, many people in my lifetime. When thinking about leadership, I’ve always pondered this difficultly-simple question: “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. Take a look at the lives of Jesus’ 12 disciples and ask yourself the question: “Were they born leaders?” I would say, probably not! A better question is: “Were they born for leadership?” Absolutely, but not without being molded and shaped into the instruments that Jesus had in mind for them to be.
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; but I do know that I like molding and shaping, in addition to being molded and shaped.
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!
20 Responses to “Are Leaders Born, Or Made?”
I think it’s a combination. Anyone can be made into a leader, but I think certain people are born with amazing leadership and influence. So I think it can go both ways.
A great statesman visited a small rural English village and asked the locals: “has this village ever born any great men?”
They replied: “no, only small babies are born here.”
hmmm,
I think that some people are thrust into leadership whether they wanted to be there or not and whether or not they have a gift for it.
Also depends on how you define leadership. ‘born to move and shake the world’ does not mean they will be good leaders.
but in the end it’s probably a combination like mandy said.
Opinion: Leaders are born; Great Leaders are made.
Great question, Scott. I believe leaders are made, no question. Their upbringing, education (or lack of), career path, life experiences, and mentorship along the way – all play vital roles in shaping them into great leaders. However, I also believe great leaders – the ones they write songs about – were born at a PREDESTINED TIME so they could become great. I don’t believe George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Winston Churchill, etc. would’ve been as influential if they were born either a decade before or after their actual birthdates. They were meant to be great, and that was all in God’s plan (Jer. 29:11).
Are leaders born? Yes. How do I know this? How can I have such confidence? Because God’s Word is true.
Unfortunately, today’s church quitely question’s God’s sovereignty. How can I say that? Because question’s like “Are Leaders Born, Or Made?”.
Consider Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
There is no randomness in God’s creation.
And consider Lamentations 3:37 & 38
Who has spoken and it came to pass,
unless the Lord has commanded it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that good and bad come?
No leader can be made that can accompish anything beyond what the Lord commands whether good or bad.
And consider Exodus 4:11
Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?…”
“quietly question’s God’s sovereignty” Sorry charley, I corrected yer spelling. But I wanted to quote the quiet challenge correctly. (grin)
Hey, Scott, you know how I love to take a complicated issue and make it even more complicated?
Well here’s one for each side of the question: Peter and Saul. I mean Paul! Yeah, that’s the ticket… (grin)
Jimmy,
No ooh..ffense taken. I live & die by the spellchecker but ddn’t
) check it.
Help me, what are you referring to when you wrote…
“Well here’s one for each side of the question: Peter and Saul. I mean Paul! Yeah, that’s the ticket…”
Dang it Charley, I hate it when people ask me to deconstruct. It’s so much more entertaining to me when they don’t. And I’m really bored. But OK. Peter for the “made” side and Saul/Paul for the “born” side. I like to disagree at angle. (grin)
Good question! I’d have to say both. Also, there’s different ways to leadership. My oldest brother is a leader through his natural charisma. My other brother is a leader through his commanding presence (he’s a big dude). And I still dunno how the heck I got to some leadership positions. Maybe cuz no one else wanted the job. =)
“I still dunno how the heck I got to some leadership positions”….O ye of little faith?
Things are not as they appear so I will depart from conventional Wesleyan thinking. :0)
In both cases, Jesus chose them & not the other way around. His choosing was in reality not on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and on the Road to Damascus, but rather before time began — “before the foundation of the world”. They merely “realized” their appointments for was now there appointed time.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…” John 15:16 ESV
Their destinations were that of leaders before they were born. Did they realize this from the beginning? No. Peter was discipled for 3 years prior to receiving the Holy Spirit. Whereas, Paul received the Holy Spirit & was then discipled.
Paul, no doubt, had a personality that lent itself to face challenges. I believe he thrived on challenges given his “zeal for the faith (Judaism)”. Both were also chosen to suffer for Christ’s name (“But the Lord said to [Ananias], “Go, for [Saul/Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” Acts 9:15 ESV).
Charley, I’m not sure, but I think you just proved my point, whatever it was.
However, if not, then Scott, Charley wins and you have to resign. (grin)
Typo correction
They merely “realized” their appointments for it was “now their appointed time”.
Sorry!
(My Opinion only) All of Us Are Born to Be Made Into Leaders-
Now, Whether or Not That Happen’s… Is A Whole Other Thing.
KPB
people are born with the skill sets, but need help developing them.
ie. i don’t care how good you’re hand-eye coordination is as a child, you cannot be my pilot until you’ve been through flight school…
In a sense its both to a small degree some people can learn to lead, but then there’s the “natural leader”, one must really be born with it in there DNA to be great or even good one. Yes people can learn to lead, but they have to work real hard at it and a natural leader will surpass them in every way. Think of it like this, almost anyone can learn to play the guitar but very few can be a Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jimmy Page. And such it is with leadership.
I have been in management/leadership rolls my whole life, trained a very large number of people for management positions, and I can tell you only a small percentage are capable of being a good leader, those that are born to be one.
While I can agree with the empirical data in it’s duality–born and made–I lean towards leaders being born. I hold to this belief because I believe there is an inherent lean towards impact, influence and good will in those who eventually become the greatest leaders and I believe this occurs as a result of God’s predestined will for these lives. Do I believe that this is obvious in everyone who eventually becomes a distinguished leaders-absolutely not. However, this is where I believe the molding comes into play. Regardless of the weaknesses displayed by the 12 Apostles-their testimony, about Jesus, is responsible for those of us who have followed Jesus for the last 2000 years. He shaped, molded and prepared them over a 3 year period-which at his earthly end would appear to have been unsuccessful. But the reality is that the worse of students with the call to leadership on their lives will eventually make the Master/Mentor proud!!
I was not a leader until i accepted Christ as my savior 5 years ago.
I think God put in me to be a leader. Spiritual gift??? Even now I have never asked to be a leader I have always been asked. Before grace i was never asked.
I think some leaders in the world are born to be that way. But they may not end up being good leaders for the kingdom. Where as (like myself) some are not leaders in the world but God has empowered them to lead in the Kingdom.
So in conclusion, I think worldly leaders are born but Kingdom Leaders are made by God.
As the Word says, The weak will lead the strong. Example David the shepherd boy.
jus my $.02… peace <
There is a fundamental problem with “All of Us Are Born to Be Made Into Leaders”. If by that you mean all people will lead someone or small group sometime (i.e. all men will lead a family, all women will lead children) then I will agree. I bigger picture, you can’t have all chiefs & no warriors.
Scripture presents a different picture. All followers of Christ are to become servants and to acquire the mind of a servant.
“But Jesus called [the disciples] to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave (bondservant),” (Matthew 20:25-27 ESV)
[Jesus] said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” Luke 9:48 ESV
The intent in Matt 20:27 is to be that of a bondservant.
However, consistent with servatude is everyone “ought to be teachers” of the Word. Not necessarily holding the “office” of teacher, but to be able to teach each other. Men are to be teaching wives, mothers teaching children, older women teaching younger women, the elders teaching the youth, etc.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Heb 5:11-14 ESV
We all, not some, but all should be skillful in handling scripture.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)