Are Leaders Born or Made? 2

A good leader should possess both innate traits as well as learned behaviors. I agree with
the notion that leaders are made and not born. This debate has been going on for many years.
However, recent research supports that leaders are made, not born. According to a study by
Goleman et al. (2013), leadership skills can be developed through training and experience. The
study found that emotional intelligence, a key trait of effective leaders, can be learned and
improved over time.
Furthermore, Day and Dragoni (2015) found that leadership development programs can
effectively improve leadership skills. Recent research supports the notion that effective leaders
are made rather than born. Leadership skills can be developed through training and experience,
as evidenced by studies on emotional intelligence and leadership development programs.
Another study by Avolio et al. (2018) found that developing leadership skills may favor
the organization’s results, including increased employee engagement and job satisfaction.
According to the study, leadership development initiatives can enhance a leader’s capability to
motivate and inspire others, in addition to creating a workplace environment that is conducive to
positivity. I agree that “leaders are not born, they are made” because effective leadership skills
can be developed through training and experience. I also agree with the notion since leadership
development programs can positively impact both individual leaders and organizations as a
whole.
The topic of management versus leadership has been extensively deliberated and
examined in the management and leadership discipline. According to a recent study by Liden et
al. (2014), managers are typically responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling the day-
to-day operations of an organization. They are appointed by higher-level managers responsible
for achieving specific goals within a given timeframe. On the other hand, leaders are individuals

Are Leaders Born or Made? 3
who inspire and motivate others to achieve a shared vision or goal (Northouse, 2016). Leaders
are often appointed or emerge through their ability to motivate and inspire others rather than
being appointed by a higher authority. They are focused on creating organizational change and
innovation and are often responsible for setting their strategic direction.
Recent research has highlighted several key differences between managers and leaders.
For example, a study by Liu et al. (2018) found that managers focus on short-term results and
maintain the status quo, while leaders have a long-term perspective and focus on creating a
vision for the future. A study by Su et al. (2021) found that managers use more transactional
leadership styles, while leaders use more transformational ones.
In conclusion, while managers and leaders share some common traits, the key differences
lie in their focus, approach, and leadership style. Effective organizations need managers and
leaders to succeed, as they play complementary roles in achieving organizational goals.

Are Leaders Born or Made? 4

References:

Avolio, B. J., Walumbwa, F. O., & Weber, T. J. (2018). Leadership: Current theories, research,

and future directions. Annual Review of Psychology, 69, 45-73.

Day, D. V., & Dragoni, L. (2015). Leadership development: An outcome-oriented review based
on time and levels of analyses. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and

Organizational Behavior, 2, 133-156.

Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2013). Primal leadership: Unleashing the power of

emotional intelligence. Harvard Business Press.

Liden, R. C., Wayne, S. J., Liao, C., & Meuser, J. D. (2014). Servant leadership and serving
culture: Influence on individual and unit performance. Academy of Management Journal,

57(5), 1434-1452.

Liu, X., Liu, C., & Shi, Y. (2018). The relationship between leadership style and employee job
satisfaction: Evidence from China. International Journal of Human Resource

Management, 29(15), 2248-2271.

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage Publications.
Su, W., Guo, Y., & Wei, F. (2021). The impact of transformational leadership on employee
creativity: Evidence from China. Journal of Business Research, pp. 123, 242–252.