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Research and Debate: Position Paper

CON: Leaders are made, not born (nurture over nature).

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Running head: CON: LEADERS ARE MADE, NOT BORN 1

CON: LEADERS ARE MADE, NOT BORN 2

What defines or determines the development of a leader? There is an ongoing debate or argument throughout time about if nature or nurture defines or determines whether or not a leader is developed. I’m here to argue that leaders are not born but they are nurtured or taught how to become a leader throughout their lives.

There are many people that claim individuals are just natural born leaders when in actuality that is nothing more than a fallacy. Individuals can have and are born with inherited qualities and certain traits that make them more suited for a leadership role but that does not make them leaders (Hyacinth, 2014). Leaders are not a different type of genetically enhanced humans; they are just people who learned the art of being a leader throughout their lives. People start learning leadership skills through nurturing by their parents from the time they are born. Basic leadership is absorbed by family structure and teaches children the basic foundation of leadership that they can build upon during their schooling and any social groups, religious organizations, public sector organizations or educational institutions they attend or are a part of (Ahmed, 2014).

There are many people who learned the skills required to accomplish great tasks. Some of the greatest wonders of the world (i.e. The Great Wall of China or the pyramids) were led by people who learned about architecture and then took their knowledge to lead others into completing those marvels. Leadership is a set of skills that can be learned by training, perception, practice and experience over time (Hyacinth, 2014).

Even though some people are born with intelligence, problem-solving ability, take charge personality and discipline; all of which are inherited qualities and certain traits that make them more suited for a leadership role, these skills and attributes can be improved with environment and training (Moran, 2013). The first step in becoming a successful leader is recognizing that learning leadership skills and styles are a lifetime activity and they must be learned before entering an organization. Leadership is an art with a set of innate traits, refined and perfected over time with education, training and experience.

References

Ahmed, M. (2014, July 5). Can Leadership Skills be Taught and Learned? Retrieved January 27,

2016, from

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140705152736-45542683-canleadership-skills-

be-taught-and-learned

Hyacinth, B. (2014, October 26). Are Leaders Born or Made? A True Story. Retrieved January

27, 2016, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141026042807-150905450-are-leaders-

born-or-made-a-true-story

Moran, G. (2013, October 14). Leadership: Nature or Nurture? Retrieved January 27, 2016, from