Today is National Youth Day. How can we not celebrate tomorrow's leaders? Or not support their growth as leaders? Do they have: Potential? Desire? Drive?
How do they possess these goals? Is it nature or nurture that defines a leader?
The Great Man theory and trait approach believe that people inherit certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. Thomas Carlyle, in the 1840s, stated, “To suggest that leaders do not enter the world with an extraordinary endowment is to imply that people enter the world with equal abilities, with equal talents.”
The early trait approach theories were called “Great Man” theories and they focused on identifying the innate qualities and characteristics possessed by great social, political, and military leaders such as Catherine the Great, Mohandas Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Moses, and Joan of Arc. Studies of leadership traits were especially strong from 1900 to the early 1940s. Renewed emphasis beginning in the 1970s as researchers began to examine visionary and charismatic leadership. (Northouse, Peter G. 2017. Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice.)
The other side of the coin is that leaders are made not born. Vince Lombardi was the head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, Lombardi led the team to three NFL championships and to victories in Super Bowls I and II (1967 and 1968). Because of his success, he became a national symbol of single-minded determination to win. He stated, "Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”
I personally believe in the nurture approach over nature. It was evident in my household with servant leader parents the expectation was that all seven children would be as well. While some put leadership skills into practice more than others, we all possess those leadership traits.
Regardless of your belief in either theory, it's important to consider the idea that everyone can be a leader. Recently, I taught a session on what makes a leader and I had one person say to me, "I almost didn't sign up as I don't envision myself as a leader." I asked her, "why not?" She said, "Because I have a boss and he is the leader."
While it is semantics whether someone is a boss or leader, my point to her was that everyone has the potential and needs to believe, study, learn, absorb and practice leadership development. I came into this belief late in life, so now I work hard at perpetuating the thought and the desire to capture the vision in others.
Whether you believe in born (nature) or made (nurture) leaders, look into yourself and say,
I'm a leader.
I'm a follower.
I am a leader-follower.
At the same time say it to the youth you influence and help them to look into that same mirror. Let your modeling reflect in them.
Maybe if we do, we can change the world one child at a time. Even the forgotten ones.
What She Said ~ Beverly
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