Are leaders born or made?
This is an age-old question that I will attempt to answer in this post. I’ve been reflecting on the conversation earlier this week in our cohort group regarding the volatile situation in the world characterized by the shrinking space for candid and factual dialogue, the impact of information overload and addictiveness on social media and the consequent online aggression. I’ve been asking myself; do we have a role in shaping “the now” and the future? Who is a leader? Are our leadership capabilities and competencies aligned to what the world needs?
Tracing leadership roots
In the book, “Clear Thinking, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary results,” the author points out that we are naturally wired to organize the world into hierarchy[1]. This helps us make sense of the world, affirm our beliefs and make our spheres habitable. Even the idea of leadership has hierarchy depending on roles, responsibilities, sphere or sector, local or global, organizational or administrative and the list goes on. Conceivably, this idea of “hierarchy” is more than just biological. In the bible, we see so many instances of hierarchy dating back to the creation story in Genesis 1. The bible accounts that God created the heavens and the earth and all the living things and creatures, He created man, in His image and likeness, “so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”[2] God then put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and they took care of it and lived out their leadership mandate. In the biblical stories that follow, the human populations grew and as that happened, we see leaders emerging with different assignments and stories: Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Joseph, David, Esther, Deborah, the Prophets, Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul and so on (not an exhaustive list). Each of them appeared like they were built for a certain time and season. But beyond the leaders we saw and read about and others who we didn’t’ learn much about but were equally leaders and arguably shaped their societies at the time.
Making of leaders
Poole (in reference to C-Suite roles) suggests that leadership is not just an inherent trait but a skill that can honed and crafted and hence the idea of leadersmithing[3]. In a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world, Poole’s research found that simulation and building leadership “muscle memory” on 17 Critical Incidents is key. She asserts that these Critical Incidents “function as foundational competencies and so are less susceptible to fashion.”
I do agree with her views and the following are what I think are leadership qualities that transcend organizational boundaries: –
- Stepping up: It goes without saying that in a VUCA world, the idea and practice of leaders stepping up to give clarity and direction is needed now more than ever.
- Joining the dots – Last week we learned about the flurry of information arising from social media. We need leadership in organizations, sectors, governments etc. who can make sense out of complexity and communicate ideas that can make lives of many better.
- Accepting when you get it wrong – In my view this is a counter-intuitive leadership trait but necessary for building trust and shaping new futures. Kathryn Schulz, in her book: Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error, points out that “embracing our fallibility not only lessens our likelihood of erring, but also helps us think more creatively, treat each other more thoughtfully, and construct freer and fairer societies.”[4] Isn’t this what the world desperately needs?
- Coping with increasing change and managing ambiguity – The term VUCA flows from the fact that we are in a state of constant change and ambiguity and a leader should find pathways of coping with change and teach/bring others along on that journey.
Given the state of the world, and the outlook, I think there are a few other key competencies outlined in Micah 6:8 that leaders can cultivate, emulate and transfer to those under their care. One is to act justly, and secondly, to love mercy and thirdly, walk humbly with God.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.[5]
And so, are leaders born or made? I’d say both. Everyone has the seed in them to lead in various forms and spheres and we can all cultivate leadership competencies to be relevant in a dynamic world.
[1] Parrish, Shane. Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results. NY; Penguin Press, 2023
[2] Genesis 1:26
[3] Poole, Eve. Leadersmithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership. London ; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017.
[4] Schulz, Kathryn. 2011. Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
[5] Micah 6:8
About the Author
Alex Mwaura
3 responses to “Are leaders born or made?”
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Alex, I like the connections between last week’s conversation on social media and this week’s reading on leader smithing. It seems that leaders are formed in a culture that needs leadership. You are uniquely positioned to provide insight. What do justice, mercy, and humility look like for leaders in today’s social media world?
Alex,
Thank you for drawing out the point that leaders are both born and made. Born in the sense that we have the ability to improve. We can develop muscle memory and form templates if we choose to put in the work.
I am intrigued by the quote from Clear Thinking about the idea that we are wired to order things in the hierarchy. While I don’t disagree, how does that interact with Galatians 3:28 and Matthew 20:24-28? How do we live out this tension between our “wiring” and Jesus’ teaching?
Alex, when I started reading your post, I initially thought it was last week’s reading. Then I realized it connected to this week’s reading! It’s intriguing how social media and the online world influence our lives today, including how different leadership styles may emerge. How do you think social media equips young people to be leaders in today’s world?