Some People Are Born Leaders, Right?
A discussion exists that has been circling for some time. It didn’t start yesterday, and it may not end today. Are some people born leaders? Are leaders automatically born into leadership or are they made?
In U.S. culture the answers are much like an election, you’ll find people on both sides.
Leadership is for the:
- wealthy who have things coming their way, it may be people like Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett;
- generous, it may be people like Paul Allen, George Soros, and Ted Turner;
- long lasting and persistent, people like Peter Drucker, Jack Welch, and Fred Smith.
Is it?
Beliefs about Leadership
Some believe that leadership is for everyone else. It is for other people, the people who have rank, money, and family connections.
There are people with a different belief about leadership. People with a different story, a different foundation, and even with a different frame. They see things differently.
Leadership is Different
When you see it that everyone has a chance to lead, and people will lead in different ways and at different capacities, leadership itself is about something different.
If you make your life’s work about developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead and then you execute to the fullest extent of your capabilities you are probably a leader.
Leadership doesn’t come from status, money, or family connections. It isn’t a job title, a number of direct reports, or high back leather chair. It isn’t a salary, perks, or a membership at the country club.
Born Leaders
Leadership may come from caring, giving, and role modeling. It may come from well executed risk, persistence, and by making good choices. It may also be about stepping up, endurance, and taking initiative.
If you decide you want to lead, then perhaps you can decide that you were born to lead.
Leadership for anyone is about one fundamental truth—choice.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a five-time author and some of his work includes, #CustServ The Customer Service Culture, and Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
