Ethical, Moral, and Legal Leadership

¶ … Ethical, Moral, and Legal Leadership

Debates whether leaders are made or born have continued to evoke striking opinions for a long time. Some people believe leaders are born, meaning that they are naturally strategic, intelligent, charismatic, and visionary. On the contrary, others are of the differing opinion that leaders are made through education, training, experience, and mentoring. Some people argue that leaders are both made and born. They are naturally extroverted and intelligent but enhanced with training, education, experience and mentoring (Avolio & Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2010).

A study focusing on global top leaders established that fifty-five percent think leaders are made on the belief that leadership is above mere genetics. A twenty percent minority believes that leaders are born. The remaining twenty percent believe that leaders are made out of a combination of these factors (Kets & Engellau, 2008). They argue that leaders have intrinsic leadership qualities but have worked hard through education and experience to maximize their leadership success. Various studies have found that leaders own a mixture of both made and born qualities. However, most study findings are biased towards leaders being made. Leaders might be born with a helping quality with intrinsic leadership skills including charisma, ambition, and drive. This is not enough for a good leader. Hard work is crucial for a leader to develop his/her level of knowledge, competence, and experience. A person cannot afford to be complacent or stand still. Leaders must cautiously learn and develop. The current business world is extremely competitive, and leaders must identify skills to ensure they stay on top (Fox & Marine Corps Association, 2011).

It is important for leaders to recognize how to draw elements that will make the biggest impact. Personality can be drawn from experience. It shapes how a person leads a team or business. Leading a big company, with a strong people-oriented culture and programs that aim at developing and growing leaders affect leadership styles. Ultimately, it boils down to passion. Human beings tend to respond to passion. Regardless of an individual's experience or training, conviction and passion enables a person to coordinate people along a common course. This is what leadership is all about since it demands followership (Fox & Marine Corps Association, 2011).

Anyone with the basics can learn how to become a leader. However, an entire leadership lot cannot be taught or learnt. This is primarily because leadership proves to be an apprentice trade. Leaders tend to learn about eighty percent of their craft on the actual job (Kets, & Engellau, 2008). Through watching and emulating other leaders, they learn leadership behaviors. They seek mentors, choose role models, and advice from other leaders on how to address the situation. Leaders improve their skills by seeking feedback and using it to benefit their subjects. The best leaders request for feedback from their subordinates, bosses, and peers. However, they adjust their behaviors to get the best results. From the competitive nature of the current globalized business environment, hard work is crucial for a leader to develop his/her level of knowledge, competence, and experience.