Natural Born Leaders... How Come?
Is he a natural born leader?
Robert is a first year student. In the next day after the first day of classes he was elected as the president of the class. When he was an elementary student he was also elected as president in their class from the third grade until the sixth grade. His parents were known officials of their community. His mother was then a leader of an organization against women and children abuse. And now she is the chairwoman of 'Gabriela', a private organization that aims to protect the rights of women and children. His father, on the other side, was the former president of anti-graft and corruption organization but now he is concentrating in leading the Parents-Teachers Association of the school where his son is studying. People say no wonder he would be like his father and mother. Some believed that the traits of Robert's parents were passed to him that's why he is good at leadership. They say, moreover, that Robert is a natural born leader. A natural born leader? What is it? Is Robert really a so-called natural born leader ?
What a Natural Born Leader Is
Robert's case isn't rare. The reason is because there were many arguments about the "natural born leaders" before and until now. A natural born leader is someone who has the traits of being a leader which is bestowed during his birth. Another one is that a natural born leader has the leadership traits inherited from his parents that are transferred through genes. Back to Roberts's case, we can say that he may be a natural born leader for his parents were leaders and have traits of being a leader. Or may be not for he just learned it as he grows up and meets new people. What do others say about it? Let's see.
They Take Their Stand: Yes, there are.
According to an annual conference of the British Psychological Society, being a leader is really “bestowed at birth”. Dr. Carl Senior, a researcher, together with an international research team, studied about the possible genes that may be linked to a leadership style called as “transformational leadership”. Transformational leadership is socio-interactive style of leadership. Achieving maximum potential through “charisma, individual consideration and support, and intellectual stimulation” among team members (or followers) is what the leaders instigate in this style of leadership.
The researchers studied closely the dopamine# - synthesizing genes and serotonin. They examined two genes – catechol-O-methlytransferase (COMT) and the transporter gene of serotonin, 5-HTTLPR that can occur in three different forms.
They have evaluated around 115 students who were given a leadership questionnaire they’d completed and had their genes tested by swabbing their cheeks. The results were those with dopamine-based gene found in its most common form got higher scores on the scales measuring the leadership characteristics. The students who do not have this gene do not demonstrate the transformational style of leadership.
Moreover the researchers found that the inefficient version of the dopamine gene was linked to those who got low scores on the two main leadership behaviors: intellectual stimulation and charisma. Those who carry these genes show less charisma.
Therefore, the researcher concluded that those who carry genes that are responsible for good leadership behaviors, if detected early, could be trained so we can have effective leaders.
# Dopamine – a chemical found in the brain responsible for appreciation/comprehension.
They Take Their Stand: No, there aren't.
People believed before that leaders are naturally born. But being a natural born leader is considered a myth. A leader is formed through experience and his decision to accept the role of a leader is his choice. No doctor in a hospital screamed in the Emergency Room, “We have a new born leader for our country!” Nor anyone from the media announced that a new leader was born in this time and in this place. Science, as well, could not explain the existence of a new leader. Science requires great evidence. If they do have some experimentation about the natural born leader, many arguments may arise. So definitely, we cannot say that there are natural born leaders.
What do you think?
What you've seen above are the points of people with enough knowledge and skills. The first article explained that researchers used an experiment to prove that there are related genes to leadership skills and may be inherited from parents. On the other hand, the other article written by a professional speaker from California, states that leaders are not born leaders. They gain their skills through experience and the choice of being a leader depends on the person, not through genes. These are from the professionals. What about the common people? What about you? What do you think, are there really natural born leaders? Let's see some of the position of the common people about it.
Natural Born Leaders
There are struggles among people if there are really natural born leaders or none. Give me your ideas and opinions of natural born leaders. Are there really the so-called natural leaders?
Positions:
Yes (6)
No (9)
It depends. (2)
- No
There is no such thing as natural leaders. The people should be brave an learn to understand the opinions of others to become the so-called leaders
Apr. 28, 2009
I have been fortunate to see leaders with natural attributes to be great leaders. I also witnessed ordinary people encounter life changing events to become the greatest leaders in my lifetime. It is a relative thing.
Apr. 28, 2009
Some people are born with natural tendencies to lead others. People are drawn to them and want to follow their example. Some people use this in a positive way and some just waste their gift. With a lot of hard work people can learn to become leaders though.
Apr. 28, 2009