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Are Leaders Born or Made?

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Are Leaders Born or Made?
Leadership-Mgmt

Abstract

Being a leader is something that at times can be very difficult to identify simply by definition. Not only does the term carry with it a great deal of meaning but it also has powerful implications that immediately come to mind. Among these are the positive traits required to be a leader. The Academy of Management Executive stated that Key leader traits include: drive (a broad term which includes achievement, motivation, ambition, energy, tenacity, and initiative); leadership motivation (the desire to lead but not to seek power as an end in itself); honesty and integrity; self-confidence (which is associated with emotional stability); cognitive ability; and knowledge of the business. (Lock, 1991) The point here is that being a leader can not be simply assigned, as to effectively function as a leader one must possess many or all of these required traits. What interests me is the question of whether or not people are actually born leaders, or is it simply a book that people read and learn on their own. The purpose of my research paper is to better understand this question. Are the best leaders born or taught? It’s quite possible that all of the skills of a leader are naturally ingrained into an individual thought process. An example that could relate to this might be a child that learns to play an instrument by ear rather than being taught. From my earliest memories as a child in pre-school and into kindergarten I have very vivid memories of having a desire to be in charge, or lead the other children. This transpired into me always deciding what game was best to be played or the best order in which we should do things. I cannot make such a bold claim nor do I have personal proof that leaders are born, but ever since my childhood I have had a strong determination to lead people. At some of the

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