Are leaders made or born?

Leadership is the ability to make use of influence over other people. A leader is a person who rules, guides or inspires others. There is a clear distinction between someone who possesses the ability to lead and someone who does not. However, what are the origins of leadership? Are some people just naturally born to be leaders? Or is leadership simply a full package with skills that can be learned by anyone, regardless the personality the individual is born with?

There have been studies made by scientists on the issue of whether personality behaviours, including leadership qualities, are natural or learned. What many have found is that genetics do play a part in certain behavioural characteristics, such as shyness, intelligence, dominance, social presence and aggression. Critical pieces of leadership are really parts of your personality. You either have charisma or you don't. You were born with a love for hard work or you are lazy.

Sir John Gilbert's 1849 painting: The Plays of Wil...

English: William Shakespeare statue in Lincoln Par...

William Shakespeare

You have self-confidence or you have self-loathing. You are intuitive, with tons of common sense, or you are impatient and impulsive. And most importantly, you are honest with yourself and can see where your faults lie.

There are two quotes with which I can agree. The first one said by the great William Shakespeare- "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Just as he said "some are born to be great". The other quote would be from Aristotle - 'some men are born to lead, and others to be led.' Just as he said some people are born with the ability to lead other.

On the other hand, it is said that there are no 'born' leaders; however we are all born with unique strengths that help us in our leadership journeys. When the opportunity to...