There are two main schools of thought related to leaders and their development. One argues that leaders are born with a certain skill set that makes them who they are, while the other believes that leaders can be custom-made. The latter has led to the development of many leadership training programs aiming to instill the qualities of leadership in an average person.

But how effective are they? Is it even possible to make leaders? Or is it just a futile effort? Read all that and much more in the next sections:

Qualities Of A Leader

It’s the presence of certain traits and qualities that distinguish a leader from the masses. Some of those traits include:

• Self-confidence
• Efficient learner
• Strong ethics
• High moral standards
• Decisive

If leadership is just a bunch of character traits, anyone can become a leader by fostering these virtues. Let’s see what the science has to say about that:

What Does The Science Say?

A study conducted by the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences revealed the percentage makeup of the genetic and environmental factors affecting leadership. According to the study, genetics accounts for only 30% of leadership skills. The remaining 70% stems from environment, which includes upbringing, socioeconomic factors, and life experiences.

Now, the genetic aspect can be replicated, as in the case of identical twins, but replicating the environmental aspect is nearly impossible.

So, does that mean leaders are developed by chance?

Luckily, there are other theories on the subject. Here’s a brief overview of a few major ones:

Theories Regarding Leadership Development

Behavioral Theory

As the name suggests, this theory revolves around the behavior of leaders. It claims that anyone with the right motivation can imitate these behaviors. According to behavioral theory, leadership is a learnable behavior and doesn’t necessarily have to be innate.

Contingency Theory

Contingency theory is peculiar in a sense that it neither directly supports nor contradicts the idea of custom-made leaders. According to its basic principles, leaders are a product of contexts and circumstances. No one is a born leader, but their situation makes them so.

For example, one person can prove to be an exceptional leader in a particular situation while at the same time failing at others.

Great Man Theory

The great man theory strongly favors the statement that leaders are born, not made. By suggesting that good leaders are born, it completely demolishes the concept of leadership as a learnable quality. The great man theory often cites Napoleon and Abraham Lincoln as protagonists who became great leaders because of the qualities they inherently possessed.

What’s The Right Answer?

Most theories consider leadership to be an acquired character that can be honed by practice and education. Moreover, recent scientific evidence is increasingly supporting the idea of custom-made leaders.

However, in one study, the researchers established a link between dopamine biochemistry and leadership. According to that, how your body deals with dopamine determines your behavioral traits pertaining to leadership.

To conclude, it can be safe to say that leadership is influenced by both nature and nurture. And the leaders can be custom-made in nurtured the right way.