Leaders Aren’t Born, And Here’s Why

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One of the biggest myths in business is that leaders are born and not made. In all honesty, this ‘pearl of wisdom’ is nothing but nonsense. Yes, there have been great leaders who were naturals, but there have also been people who worked hard to lead by example. If you’re not a natural, it isn’t impossible to transform into an effective boss. For those of you that don’t believe that to be true, here is why you need to open your mind.

These are the reasons it is possible to turn into an effective leader of people and become a great boss.

You Can Study And Observe

The main reason the statement is untrue is that it insinuates leadership skills are innate. Either you have them or you don’t, and if you don’t that is unfortunate. However, people lack all kinds of skills in their everyday life, yet it never holds them back. The reason is simple: they study and learn. Just because you are not a natural doesn’t mean you can’t discover how to do it in the future. The trick is to observe the people that are effective leaders and use them as a sounding board. Over time, their influence will shine through and you will emerge into a leader. You just have to take the time to study the right people. Plus, you need the wherewithal to understand that your leadership skills need sharpening.  

It’s Psychological

Saying that a leader has to be natural diminishes the effects of psychology. Everything you do is to try and get the best out of your employees. After all, you need them to work at their maximum for the benefit of the firm. As long as you know what makes these people tick, that is a realistic possibility. And, it doesn’t have to take ages because an online psychology degree can teach you the basics. Once you drill into the bedrock of a person’s personality, you will be able to provide them with what they want. It may be more money or more responsibility, but it’s arbitrary as long as you give the right people the right incentives.

There’s No Need For Ego

It’s business – how are there not going to be a lot of egos flying around?! That is true, but you don’t have to be one of these people. Of course, you need a level of confidence to perform well in your job. However, there is no reason to believe that you are right of all of the time. Regarding leadership, this correlates very nicely. People who think they are leaders are not prone to personal growth. They believe they know it all, so they don’t see the need to improve. You’re different because leading people isn’t your greatest skill. As such, it is easier to learn from your mistakes and grow than it is for natural born leaders.

The above are only three examples of why you don’t need to be born with leadership qualities. In truth, there are plenty more, and that says everything you need to know.