Natural born leaders, do they exist, or can they be made?
Is this the only way to leadership, or can they be made? I am of the opinion that people are born with the ability to lead. Some will naturally grow and demonstrate their ability to lead, but others will need that extra push and training to get their ability to shine through.
I do not believe you could take someone with zero leadership ability and train it into them. If this were possible, we would be in a world of leaders.
Some people are just born to be leaders. They have the natural charisma and presence to take charge and guide others. They are confident in their abilities and clearly envision what they want to achieve. These individuals often make great leaders because they are able to inspire others and motivate them to work together towards a common goal.
What does natural leader mean?
There is no one answer to this question as the term “natural born leader” can mean different things to different people. Generally speaking, however, a natural leader is someone who possesses innate qualities that make them stand out and inspire others. These qualities might include charisma, courage, determination, and integrity. So this would lead to the argument that leaders are made and not born.
Some people are born with the natural ability to lead, while others develop these skills over time. What matters most is not whether someone is a natural-born leader or not, but whether they are using their abilities for good or bad. A natural leader who uses their gifts for selfish purposes or to harm others is not admirable; however, a leader who uses their talents to make a positive difference in the world is truly remarkable.
How do you identify a natural leader?
I am not a body language expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have been around the block enough to spot the natural born leader in a room.
Here are a few signs to look for.
A natural leader will not smile all the time. Smiling is a subservient behaviour designed to acquire a friendly response. So in a typical meeting room, the boss won’t be smiling, but all the managers will look at him with big smiles trying to gain favour.
When you engage in conversation with a natural leader, watch the eyes. A natural leader will be looking over your shoulders and scoping the room. However, when the leader is talking to you, his eyes will be fixed on yours to ensure he has your attention.
The Natural born leader will interrupt. This is done to an extent as they don’t know they are doing it sometimes. You will also always notice that when they speak, the room will go quiet as the subject of the statement is absorbed.
The man standing still in a room with his head high is the natural leader. They move very purposefully and are, in effect, the alpha of the room. Everyone else in the room will be scurrying around to ensure they look busy.
A natural leader will hold their head still as they speak. Nodding your head is again a subservient behaviour; the more you nod, the more subservient you are.
Who are born leaders examples?
Some examples of born leaders are:
- Mohandas Gandhi, 1930. His legacy as an Indian nationalist, religious leader and moral revolutionary resonates in social and political reform movements to this day.
- Winston Churchill, 1940,1949. He best personified the kind of leadership Britain needed during World War II — a larger-than-life figure who pronounced dreams of victory when all seemed lost.
- George Marshall, 1943,1947. He is regarded as the man, more than any other, who could be said to have armed the Republic as he oversaw the growth of the U.S. Army personnel from under 200,000 to over 8 million.
- Martin Luther King Jr. 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. was the personification of the civil rights movement. Seeking to transform his anger against a segregated and hateful world, he found a weapon in Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolent resistance.
- Mikhail Gorbachev, 1987,1989. By 1982, Gorbachev was already well positioned for the national leadership role he took over in 1985: “While still in charge of farming, he gathered Soviet academic experts for a series of seminars held sometimes in the Central Committee offices, sometimes in a dacha outside Moscow.
- F.W. De Klerk and Nelson Mandela, 1993. Mandela and De Klerk were international symbols of apartheid. As a leader of the African National Congress and a participant in the struggle to overthrow apartheid, Mandela spent more than 25 years as a political prisoner. When De Klerk assumed the presidency of South Africa in September 1989, he began to change the system of apartheid and abolish discriminatory laws. On February 11, 1990, De Klerk released Mandela from prison.
What qualities does a natural leader have?
- You inspire others to achieve their goals. You cultivate a culture where innovation can flourish and are open about your goals, and at the same time, are passionate and positive about your team and business.
- You have resilience by focusing on the solution, not the problem. You always take ownership of failure and use it as an opportunity to learn.
- You give credit where credit is due. Show your team and your customers that you value them and their contributions. You also understand how it is essential to provide this recognition promptly.
- You take the lead when you need to. This does not mean micromanaging like the bad bosses I have talked about previously. Still, you are confident in your abilities to cultivate the freedom for ideas and results in your team. Then understand when to step in and also step out.
- Enjoy being in charge and motivating people. Enjoy being the boss and enabling your team to be the best they can be by giving them the tools and advice they need to progress. Help them not only progress but become better.
- Empathy is the name of the game here. You listen and communicate effectively. Sometimes we just listen to reply. Take a step back and learn to listen to understand first. Give the other person the attention they are looking for and develop that healthy line of communication.
- You will have a strong character. Honesty, accountability and especially honesty are qualities you need to possess, but they are also qualities you need to bring out in your team.
- You know when you need to ask for help. As well as understanding your capabilities, you must understand your limits and be humble enough to hold your hands up and ask for help.
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