Comments on: Are Leaders Born, Or Made?

By: Are Leaders Born or Made | Leadership Qualities Exercises Guide

Are Leaders Born or Made | Leadership Qualities Exercises Guide — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:19:56 +0000

[...] Are Leaders Born Or Made? There is a lot of research going on that supports different answers to this kind of question; those combined answers state that leaders are Born, Made and some think Both. I don’t know if that’s the ultimate answer, however I do know that moulding and shaping will shed some doubts. [...]

By: Charley

Charley — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:33:10 +0000

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)

By: wpusey

wpusey — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:18:02 +0000

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 <

By: @dvineexpression

@dvineexpression — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:11:57 +0000

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!!

By: Dennis Muse

Dennis Muse — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:04:35 +0000

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.

By: brett

brett — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:41:17 +0000

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…

By: KarinParkerBiz

KarinParkerBiz — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:37:02 +0000

(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

By: Charley

Charley — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:11:52 +0000

Typo correction

They merely “realized” their appointments for it was “now their appointed time”.

Sorry!

By: jimmy paravane

jimmy paravane — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:20:19 +0000

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)

By: Charley

Charley — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:46:41 +0000

“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).