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Born Leaders
April 25, 2007

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Are we born leaders?

Everyone knows that person that steps to the front, takes charge and everyone follows.

Is this a born leader or a trained leader?At the Southwest Purchasing Conference in Albuquerque last year, Sharon McGee was one of our presenters. She is one of the leaders interviewed in a book “Leadership Defined” with interviews conducted by David E. Wright, President, International Speakers Network. The question is asked, “Do you have to be born a leader or can you be a trained leader?”T his book offers information from the experts.

Motivation may be the single most important determining factor to those who do not have the natural gift of leadership to become a leader per Pat Mayfield of Pat Mayfield Consulting.We have a nation of extraordinary leaders who overcame many difficulties and challenges to be leaders.A great example is Eleanor Roosevelt. She had a difficult childhood:her mother died when she was eight and her alcoholic father passed away when she was ten.Eleanor had an enormous fear of public speaking; yet she became one of our nation’s greatest speakers and leaders.

One of my favorites: Abraham Lincoln.

Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln. Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life.He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.He could have quit many times--but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country.

Abraham Lincoln stated after losing a Senate race, “The path was worn and slippery.My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, “It’s a slip and not a fall”.

Our world is becoming more and more technical every day.Almost every task associated with business activity involves multiple layers of technology. Buyers main focus used to be on buying. Now we do reports on days on hand inventory, service level, inventory turns and etc. Millions of dollars are spent annually by businesses in an effort to improve the bottom line results through the use of technology.How many IT people do you have in your business? When you have a problem, you have to describe it so the help desk can direct you to the right person and department.

David E. Wright, President of the International Speakers Network said “One of the most critical issues related to business and personal success has nothing to do with technology.It involves the human brain and human heart.It’s leadership.And without solid leadership, all the technological advances in the world won’t save a struggling organization.”

Leadership skills are not taught in public schools.Remember the game “Follow the Leader”. If you were the leader, everyone else was suppose to do what you did.

I only found one course in undergraduate classes that specifically referred to leadership.

4470. Leadership. 3 hours. An in-depth course on leadership. Students are provided practical tools and methods of leadership that will apply to a variety of organizational structures. Students gain insights about their own personalities, skills, ethics, values and beliefs as they relate to leading others, and have the opportunity to discuss and debate a number of leadership topics.

Until you reach the business world, you do not get the real understanding of leadership. How do you develop these skills, in school, in the many books written on leadership, training programs your company offers or you one that was gifted with leadership abilities?Does a good leader need to be a good public speaker?

Posted by Mary Walker on April 25, 2007 | Comments (0)