Leaders: Born or Made?
Whether or not leaders are born or made is the age-old question. According to research, it appears that although there are some natural abilities that go with making a good leader, like charisma and confidence, leaders are made. They are developed in a variety of ways, through: their personal development, maturity to adulthood, assistance from mentors and coaches, and self-reflection.
“How much do leaders matter?”, was another interesting question posed by leadership researchers. Through their findings, they were able to measure the impact they had on an organization. Research findings indicate that leaders vary on the importance they play on the industry. Some leaders have a more significant impact on organizations than others, but regardless of how effective their role is, the better question to ask is where do they matter? Determining where the leader impacts the organization the most gives an indication to the significance of the leader.
Another question to explore in leadership is “Why is there a significant gender gap in leadership?” “Only 2% of the Fortune 500 CEOs and only 8% of top leadership positions are held by women” (Kindle, 4684-87). The gap widens for minority women. The significant gender gap in leadership is seen in politics and corporate leadership positions, and this gap is mirrored in organizational leadership around the world. When women comprise half or more of the world’s population, it is important to explore the barriers which are: the gender expectations and stereotypes that influence the leaders and the followers, and assertive behavior is admired in men and criticized in women for being unattractive or bossy. When women are successful, they are less liked then their male counterparts, but when they are nice they are not respected (Kindle, 4701-3). This is a double-bind we are placing our women leaders in, therefore, they have to decide to be liked or be competent, verses being able to be both.
What makes leadership positions so challenging for women to secure? Research indicates that organizations undermine their women leaders as being ill-suited for the leadership position, thus providing a gender bias in their company’s culture. Other barriers include: breaking into the good-ol’ boys club, excessive hours at the office away from family, limited time for socialization, them doing the majority of housework and childcare as well as their job, lack of supportive spouses, lack of flexibility, and avoiding flex time for fear of jeopardizing their position. To perpetuate the issue, there is a lack of female role models in leadership to inspire younger women. Sadly, research reveals women are held to higher work standards but their work competency is rated lower, and their pay is less. In summary, “women leaders clearly navigate a different societal and organizational terrain than their male counterparts, a terrain deeply rooted in cultural ambivalence.” (Kindle, 4708-10).re
I am left with a few questions of my own about leadership: What constitutes a healthy leader? How do we create a culture for both genders to lead together? I think it is fair to say, if leaders are made, they are just as much “unmade” or undeveloped if we lack the development needed to make healthy, successful leaders, giving equal opportunity to all genders and minorities.
About the Author
Jennifer Dean-Hill
10 responses to “Leaders: Born or Made?”
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“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
That statement was written approximately 2,000 years ago. This statement is amazing when we realize that in the early years of the U.S.A., women did not have the right to own land!
As someone who has never been a woman (true story) thank you for the reminder that this Biblical ideal has not yet been realized in our world.
Thanks Stu- great passage that lasts throughout the ages and issues. Oh and thanks for empowering women even though you’ve never been one:)
The question of whether leaders matter, and the contextual variation that occurs across different sectors, was an interesting one. In some instances, CEO’s did not influence or affect the success of a company as much as some might expect. I wonder what the case is in the church? I have a very strong suspicion that we leaders overestimate our importance and our centrality to the universe!?
Yes I’m sure we may overestimate our value as leaders and the church is no exception. I found it relieving to be reminded that I’m not as important as I might have thought as a leader.
Jen, great post as usual! You mentioned all the barriers to women in leadership jobs today. I think many of them boil down to attitude and prejudice. “…the gender expectations and stereotypes that influence the leaders and the followers, and assertive behavior is admired in men and criticized in women for being unattractive or bossy.”
To me that’s the key. Not too many folks know that the Irish had it right. Yes, in Ireland in the 6th and 7th centuries women occupied prominent places of leadership in government, law, and religious communities. Women owned property and some even helped train young men in soldiering. What did they know that we have forgotten? Maybe Paul’s instructions to the Galatians as Stu mentioned above?
It seems like we’ve gone backwards in our culture. It’s time to reverse and to move forward developing “healthy, successful leaders, giving equal opportunity to all genders and minorities.”
Wow! Ireland knows how to treat it’s women. I just discovered Sweden is supposed to be very gender friendly. Thanks for your insight and encouragement. I value your input.
I am Women, see me Roar
I’m every woman
I’m am your superwoman
I’m coming out
Control
We had a season of songs of women emancipation by artist and yet we still have a long way to go. Why, so many women do not see their potential. Listening to some of the women voters who believe a women can not or should not run the country, shows that some women are still afraid to be more than his woman, have low self-esteem, or just brainwashed!
A healthy leader is one who is balance in life. They are not being God but being in Him. We can’t solve all problems but those within our assignment from God. We must learn to balance our time with God, family, mission/job, and personal life. God took a break we are allowed to also.
Jen I agree with your closing statement ” if leaders are made, they are just as much “unmade” or undeveloped if we lack the development needed to make healthy, successful leaders, giving equal opportunity to all genders and minorities.” I think that we have to get on one accord about how we define the role of a leader. Depending on a persons school of thought will determine how they select leaders in their organization, how they lead, how they develop leaders and how they engage the members of their community in the strategy, growth and sustainability of their organization.
You and I are on the same wavelength here. 🙂
“…this gap is mirrored in organizational leadership around the world.” As I read your post, I reflected on the reality that women still have opportunities to be leaders. Maybe not as leaders of organizations comprising both genders, but women all over the world lead other women all the time. While the Church and the business world have limited the roles in which women can lead, we women are resilient and still identify those among us who are gifted (born AND made) and let them lead. I’m not suggesting that that makes everything okay (it doesn’t!), but that leaders will lead, because that is who they are and that is who others have identified as leaders.
These statistics hit me hard, Jennifer. I thought we had made more progress than this, yet sometimes we seem to be sliding backward. “Women leaders clearly navigate a different societal and organizational terrain than their male counterparts, a terrain deeply rooted in cultural ambivalence.” The terrain is vastly different, especially in the church. I still believe this is rooted in a dangerous lack of mutuality in the church to provide a good model to culture.