Leaders: Born or Made?

The issue about the characteristic of someone who was born dwells on the subject of nature. And “Natural,” by definition extends to all that occurs along the laws of nature. It would just be logical then to claim that leaders are not natural. More than that, a leader is not born a leader because if the case were the other way around, it would be possible then to characterize “leadership pregnancies” or leadership diets for mothers and such other frivolous and absurd terms.

A leader, I reckon, arises because of human conditions – due to the needs of human to socialize and inevitably fall into a pattern of social organization, because this organization needs to be facilitated and because we know that it needs a governing body. All these arise because our social nature dictates us to cause them to do so… not because the autonomous function of our biological makeup dictates us to fall into this order.

Because such an order arises and everyone is assumed to be concerned with the survival of the organization in which his survival of the organization entirely depends, a tendency for the members to struggle is consequent. The interplay of the members in turn create a call for someone who is more skillful in dragging them to the betterment of their status.

But then again, it can be argued that we are all born leaders because everyone has the opportunity to become leaders. The only requirement to achieving that is through training. And what is the best training? How we handle our own respective lives. We all lead our lives. If we govern our thoughts and decisions correctly, then we will have a life towards positivity. This is a good sign of great leadership – when ourselves were governed by us constructively. Thus, it is just right to spread the positivity, progress and betterment that we have. To be a part of a certain group of people and indoctrinate them with these learnings.

I believe that we are all born leaders but this belief is boxed inside where the context of possibilities arise. Genuine leadership requires being molded into it. Marcos was not born to be a leader. He was born a wise man that is. He used his knowledge to govern and he became successful. If he weren’t educated well and remained illiterate, he would not have the qualities that people look for and he wouldn’t be elected as Philippine president for two terms. How about Andres Bonifacio? In his case, he doesn’t need to earn a degree just to hold his being the Supremo ng Katipunan. His courage and bravery catapulted him to such. If he wasn’t molded to acquire such characteristics and grew up to be timid, shy and easily frightened, he wouldn’t be a Supremo.

The emergence of leaders around us require many things. You don’t just get born and eventually lead. Possibility, yes. But the probability remains questionable until you have proven something.