The term leadership has been defined differently by different authors. This essay will assume leadership as the ability of a person or a group of individuals to guide and influence other members of an institution or followers. This topic has experience extensive research over time as researchers aim to discover what makes up a good leader. Different theories of leadership have been formulated over time. They include the Great Man’s theory which states that great leaders are born with essential internal skills and characteristics that make them natural-born leaders making leadership inherent (Spector, 2015). It argues that leaders are not made but born portraying them as mythical and heroic and destined to succeed. Behavioral leadership, on the other hand, states that leaders are made and not born hence opposing the Great Man theory. This theory holds that leadership skills and qualities can be instilled through observation and teaching (Antonakis " House, 2014). These two theories form the basis of our discussion since the essay compares and contrasts both ideologies. Other theories include participative theories, trait theories, contingency theories, and situational theories among others.
Body
Leadership qualities
When defining the qualities that make up a good leader, it would be important to note that there are a variety of qualities but these qualities are determined by the situation in which a leader is in which is clearly defined by situational leadership theory. This theory suggests that leaders behave differently based on the situation they are in since some qualities are best in a specific condition while others are not. For instance, a father may be expected to be loving and caring while addressing family matters but required to be authoritative when addressing work-related issues. However, some of the common qualities that make up a good leader include confidence, commitment, and passion, honesty and integrity, inspires others, good communicator, accountability, decision-making capabilities, impartiality, diligence, flexibility, empowerment and delegation, creativity and innovation, and empathy among others (Hasan, 2018).
In most cases, these qualities form leadership skills which include delegation, feedback, positivity, trustworthiness, and motivation among others. In understanding the topic of leadership, it is also essential to comprehend some of the basic leadership styles. They include transformational leadership, servant leadership, transactional leadership, democratic leadership, charismatic leadership, laissez-faire leadership, and bureaucratic leadership among others (Yahaya " Ebrahim, 2016). These styles demand a leader to possess certain leadership qualities for effective and efficient control.
Contrast and comparison
This essay will critique the statement stating that “Leadership qualities are inherent. Some people will innately make good leaders and others will not. It is not something that can be passed on through education or training.” As stated in the introductory paragraph this is a comparison between the Great Man and behavioral theories of leadership. I approve this statement in that leaders born with leadership qualities mostly possess qualities such as charm, courage, persuasiveness, aggressiveness, demanding personality, intellect, and increased amount of perception some skills that cannot be learned (Spector, 2015). It would be difficult to teach an individual how to become charismatic. In most leadership classes, individuals are taught skills such as critical thinking, communication skills, and financial skills which cannot effectively make one a leader. Some of these skills taught can only help better once leadership skills but not make them an excellent leader.
The argumentative statement is mainly evident in family structures where some siblings possess leadership skills and end up making the best leaders which others completely lack skills. Successful leaders can be seen to take up some family roles and responsibilities from a tender age. Additionally, natural-born leaders help parents in making decisions which is evident in many families. These natural-born leaders continue to excel in many areas due to their unique skills and talents. If leadership skills were learned, then one can hold that all individual are leaders since in most cases they undergo a similar education system. However, most successful investors did not become successful due to the education gained but due to some internal skills such as persistence which cannot be taught. In most cases, we have seen organization been run by most educated people failing while some family business succeed because those individuals have some inherent genes necessary to operate the business.
Additionally, naturally born leaders are confident and seem to be more decisive compared to those leaders who are made. In most cases, these natural-born leaders are risk takers and can engage in activities that might seem unreasonable or impossible. With the increased competition, I believe that organizations and countries need leaders who are not only creative but also risk-takers rather than risk-averse. Some of the natural-born leaders include Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Kamal Ataturk, and Mao Tse Tung among others. Natural born leaders were able to liberate many states from colonization and other forms of oppression.
However, some of the characteristics believed to be essential to make a successful leader such as masculinity make terrible leaders. According to the Great Man theory, men were viewed as born leaders and were expected to make decisions while women, on the other hand, were expected to follow the decision set by men. The ideology that leaders are born therefore increases instances of sexism in the society (Khan " Nawaz, 2016). Additionally, research proves that some form of dictatorship and conflict has characterized most monarchy forms of government which encourage hereditary succession. Since most born leaders were believed to be masculine and possessed military skills they used force to secure leadership spots for their children.
The increased overthrow of hereditary leaders whom we can conclude that were natural-born leaders proves that leadership genes cannot be passed over through generations. Korea’s ruler Kim Jong-Un is an excellent example of a hereditary leader who has been described as the most unethical and poor judgmental leader in the country. He has faced numerous critic from all parts of the world proving that sometimes natural-born leaders may fail to make successful leaders. Additionally, many family businesses fail due to lack of effective leadership, and some of these businesses have settled for hiring managers who have been molded in schools and through other forms of training proving that leadership can be taught and learned.
It is clear that some leadership skills can only be acquired through learning and with the current trends in both the business and political arena leaders have to equip themselves with skills such as critical thinking and communication (Day et al., 2014). For instance, a business manager has to understand the different culture of his/her employees and other stakeholders meaning that they have to learn some basic things such as language. Due to the increased globalization, leaders meet to discuss some of the issues affecting societies such as environmental and economic matters and to understand them clearly, and one has to have some basic knowledge which cannot be inherited.
The great man theory mainly focused on shaping military leaders who were elected on the basis of their masculinity and other genetical factors. However, nowadays all leaders are expected to go through some training aimed at improving their skills (Meuser et al., 2016). Military and other law enforcement officers are equipped with skills that will help them interact and collaborate with the public they are also equipped with financial skills necessary to support the plan for their budgets and improve their living standards. These are some of the abilities which a leader cannot be born with and will require basic training for effective governance. Additionally, we have experienced the appointment of military leaders without basic military training, but with managerial skills learned through coaching and learning. Moreover, some nations were able to liberate themselves from poverty and other problems once they elected learned leaders other than hereditary leaders. If leadership were completely genetic, then the hereditary form of leadership would still be in use, but most states abolished this mode of leadership and took other forms.
Conclusion
A balance between these two theories is found in the trait theory which states that leadership qualities can be learned but for one to effectively become a good leader they must possess some characteristics that will make the learning process simple and easy. Due to the dynamic nature of the world, it would be advisable for organizations to take up this theory by encouraging leaders to improve their competence through learning. Different approaches may be taken up to develop their skills such as seminars, training, benchmarking, and consultation among others. Leaders have to understand that they should familiarize themselves with current technological advancements, legal requirements, cultural, social, and ethical requirements, and environmental issue among other factors which are essential in conducting their different activities (Dinh et al., 2014). In my view, effective leaders are those that possess both internal and external leadership characteristics. Lastly, leadership should avoid any form of discrimination giving equal chances to all individuals to portray their capabilities.
References
Antonakis, J., " House, R. J. (2014). Instrumental leadership: Measurement and extension of transformational–transactional leadership theory. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(4), 746-771. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.04.005
Day, D. V., Fleenor, J. W., Atwater, L. E., Sturm, R. E., " McKee, R. A. (2014). Advances in leader and leadership development: A review of 25years of research and theory. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), 63-82. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.11.004
Dinh, J. E., Lord, R. G., Gardner, W. L., Meuser, J. D., Liden, R. C., " Hu, J. (2014). Leadership theory and research in the new millennium: Current theoretical trends and changing perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), 36-62. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.11.005
Hasan, S. (2018, March 19). Top 10 Leadership Qualities That Make Good Leaders [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://blog.taskque.com/characteristics-good-leaders/
Khan, I., " Nawaz, A. (2016). A comparative analysis of leadership theories: a review. Journal of Research, (4), 19-31. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322917350_A_COMPARATIVE_ANALYSIS_OF_LEADERSHIP_THEORIES_A_REVIEW
Meuser, J. D., Gardner, W. L., Dinh, J. E., Hu, J., Liden, R. C., " Lord, R. G. (2016). A Network Analysis of Leadership Theory. Journal of Management, 42(5), 1374-1403. doi:10.1177/0149206316647099
Spector, B. A. (2015). Carlyle, Freud, and the Great Man Theory more fully considered. Leadership, 12(2), 250-260. doi:10.1177/1742715015571392
Yahaya, R., " Ebrahim, F. (2016). Leadership styles and organizational commitment: literature review. Journal of Management Development, 35(2), 190-216. doi:10.1108/jmd-01-2015-0004
