Nature vs. Nurture: Can Anyone Be Taught To Be A Successful Leader/Manager?

We have heard people say that great leaders are not born, they are made. But, we have also heard people say that great leaders are not made, they are born, right? Which statement is true then? Is this nature or nurture when it comes to preparing future managers and leaders? Let us consider both aspects of the formation of a leader, that is, nature and nurture.

There are claims that the best leaders/managers have differently programmed brains. These claims go to great lengths to show that leadership is partly hereditary and dismiss the belief that skills can be acquired through nurture.

But it is not as simple as it seems to be. You can’t just hold your DNA responsible for the factors that determine your leadership abilities. And, “if you think” you’re not a “born leader,” you shouldn’t just plunge into the quagmire of dismay. Experts confirm that reality is a bit more complicated than simply falling off a log. Experts acknowledge that determining whether a person holds leadership qualities is a complex mix of genetics as well as environmental factors.

Remember, effective and efficient leadership does not always imply a strong and authoritative personality. Individual personality traits undoubtedly help you become a good leader, but leadership and management development program (MDP), industry knowledge, experience, and training provided by an established B-school are essential to the success. So while there is some evidence that natural traits could help leaders, it’s only a small part of the picture.

Petra Wilton of the Chartered Management Institute says, “It’s like riding a bike…Most people can ride a bike, but not everyone can be an Olympic winner. The same goes for management and leadership.”

A management institute must fully believe that it can teach and develop the leadership skills in the students while they are studying in the MBA universities. For such institutions, it is not about teaching written literature, but rather a practical skill through management development programs. Various management development programs provide students at MBA schools and other management institutes with a system of progressive skill advancement to nurture emerging talent. The management institute is known for its state of the art management development programs in India.

For budding leaders and managers, the message is very clear (as much as possible on such a complex subject): your individual personality traits may help initially, but they are not the factor in deciding your success or failure. From management lectures and courses, to mentorships or advanced management development programs, increasing your skills is often crucial to success at your management institute and in the world at large. Otherwise, even the best management institutes will be of little use.