Leaders are made, not born.

By Doug Franklin April 16, 2010

Many students are under the false assumption that leaders are born, not made.  In fact, a major study by George Barna once found that while 85% of business leaders believe that leadership can be learned, 85% of students believe that you are born a leader.

Leadership is not something some students are just born with and others aren’t.  There is no leadership gene that some students have and others don’t.  Being a leader is not genetic or hereditary.  It is a learned behavior.

Leadership is a set of skills that can be taught and can be learned.  Anyone at anytime can exercise leadership if the proper principles are applied.  Leadership is a process that is habitual and situational.

There is a set of leadership principles that when applied allow normal people to do extraordinary things.  Some of these principles include communication, problem solving, focus, risk taking, conflict resolution, and navigation of obstacles.  A great place to start in leadership is to learn how to use these principles effectively.

It is not enough, however, to just learn principles of leadership.  Knowledge by itself doesn’t make a person an effective leader.  Practical experience is where leadership principles come to life.  You learn to be a leader by leading.  Leadership development occurs when you apply leadership principles to specific situations.  This process is summarized in the following simple formula:

Leadership Principles + Leadership Experience = Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership takes place when the leader’s influence brings positive and needed change to individuals and organizations.  It is a powerful and effective leadership approach that can be learned by everyone.