I believe that people can be born leaders, but at the same time people can also develop leadership qualities that can also make them great leaders. I believe that leadership characteristics are a combination of nature and nurture. Some characteristics like emotional intelligence or charm, can be considered genetic traits, but can be developed throughout a person’s life. If a person is surrounded by people who happen to be leaders, then they can develop similar traits. An individual can also become a leader through different courses (education) or other challenges they face in their lifetime. Most of the time. Leadership characteristics can be perfected over time and they are the most successful when they can continue to grow throughout their careers. Leaders will always find new ways to challenge themselves with new opportunities so they better develop themselves. When I was younger, I usually didn’t like being a leader because I did not want the responsibility or the blame. As I grew older, I began to gravitate toward being a leader because I learned that facing my challenges head on built character and I think that this shaped me into who I am today.

The nature vs. nurture topic has been rife with debate for years now. I personally believe that in most cases, such as in the area of psychology, it can depend on a mix of the two. But as for the leadership skills of an individual, nurture plays a bigger role. Good leaders usually exhibit particular traits such as perseverance, decisiveness, and integrity, which are traits that are acquired through life experiences and can be gleaned from lessons from others. Admittedly, there are more hereditary traits like high intellect that also help with being a good leader, but these seem more supplemental than obligatory. People who possess high intellect and skill may not be very good at leading a group. In my experience, the best leaders I have seen are usually those who are very sociable and great at finding and amplifying every member's individual talents. People are very rarely born leaders; they are molded into leaders by their life experiences.

Is leadership a trait or a process? What makes a great leader are traits like accountability, excellent communication, focused, humble, and passionate. Some of these traits are learned through experience, but also many traits that make up a leader come from with-in. Accountability, being humble, and being passionate are not traits that can be taught or learnt from experiences. Leaders must hold themselves and their teams responsible for the work each is responsible for. Leaders must admit their mistakes and elevate those around them. Leaders must be passionate about teamwork and working towards a common goal. Ownership, humility, and spirit are vital parts of leadership that I believe can not be taught. Therefore, to be a complete leader one must be have it in their nature and learn from experiences, which have been a consistent agreement in prior posts.

I tend to think that there are no natural leaders but develop those abilities based on those around them and the experiences they face. In my opinion, they are nurtured to have these traits and are able to grow their leadership abilities as they go through life. By having enough practice and leadership experiences, I believe anyone could become a leader if their personality also fits the role. 

The question of whether or not leaders are "made" or "born" revolves around how much emphasis is placed on innate traits vs acquired abilities. It is widely accepted that experiences and education have a larger role in shaping leadership qualities than genetics, even though some attributes may have a hereditary component. When it comes to project managers, training, mentoring, and practical experience are frequently used to build their leadership skills. Effective leadership, while it may come naturally to some, is essentially a skill set that can be developed and improved over time through constant learning and adaptation. That being said, with enough effort and commitment, practically anybody can become a leader. On the other hand, it is possible that some individuals who are "born followers" will never be able to hold a leadership role.

The concept of a "born leader" has been around for a while, but I myself lean towards the belief that leadership is primarily nurtured through experiences and upbringing rather than being an inherent trait. While some individuals may inherit certain qualities from their parents, I see these as potential predispositions rather than conclusive evidence of being a "born leader." Leadership skills are honed through a combination of personal experiences, mentorship, education, and exposure to diverse situations. Effective leadership involves a dynamic interplay between one's innate qualities and the lessons learned over time. The ability to inspire, communicate, and navigate challenges seems to evolve through a continuous process of adaptation and growth. Considerable evidence supports the idea that individuals can develop leadership skills through intentional learning, practice, and exposure to different leadership styles. This aligns with the nurture aspect, suggesting that external influences, such as education and mentorship, play a crucial role in shaping leaders.

I agree with previous replies that have stated although leadership is a mixture of nurture and nature, it is ultimately nurture that influences the leadership qualities of an individual. Although we have "inherited" leadership qualities from our parents, in reality, we are learning (nurture) such qualities from them rather than inheriting. During times of need, unlikely individuals can emerge as leaders as they learn from their mistakes and from others. Leadership skills are gained through valuable experiences that challenge one's comfort zone, and testing one's abilities. Gaining leadership skills is an on-going process that does not end after one experience. It's a constant process where an individual is always learning and adjusting.

When viewing the realm of project management, the question of whether someone learns to be a leader or is born a leader has been an on going debate for hundreds of years. In my opinion, leaders are not born, they are made. Although the time it takes to develop the characteristics of a leader may vary from person to person, the truth is that with time, willingness, and practice, anyone can acquire the skills necessary to become a leader. However, I do believe that it is important to explore the concept of each side.

In the concept of being "born a leader", individuals possess innate characteristics and qualities that make them natural-born leaders. These certain traits that gives individuals what it takes to lead include confidence, charisma, and assertiveness. The theory is that these particular qualities that some individuals are fortunate to be born with are able to influence and inspire others to follow them. On the other hand, some argue that determination, experience, and passion are more important than innate characteristics. In the concept of being "made a leader", individuals are able to become leaders by developing and refining their abilities over time. People who are considered "made" leaders are able to improve their decision making skills and emotional intelligence through dedication to learning and practice.

In my lifetime I have found that the people that I view as leaders have been able to lead by example, which is a testament to the experiences that they have gone through. I did not look up them and follow their lead because they had a certain confidence and charisma that I lacked, it was more so that they knew how to tackle problems in ways that I hadn't seen or thought of before. So, while individuals are able to be born with qualities that make them more inclined to be a leader, I believe that a leader is made rather than born.

Being a project manager entails a host of responsibilities to both the larger organization and to the employees under them and, in my opinion, it takes a unique kind of person to do this. I was fortunate enough to work under a great PM at an educational non-profit a few years ago and while she was a great leader to everyone on our team she also helped to achieve our achieve team goals through her strong interpersonal skills, ability to problem solve, and handling of difficult/complex scenarios. Moreover, she was extremely passionate about the company's mission and this really helped maintain positivity and the will to persevere. So while it is important to have strong leadership skills as a project manager, the position really requires foundations in many different skill sets. 

In regards to the idea of nature vs. nurture relating to leadership skills, I personally believe this is a learned-skill. While there may be some advantage for those who were raised by parents possessing leadership traits, anyone can develop these skill sets with time and experience.       

Although I do believe some people are just better at being leaders than others, I think a lot of it stems from their past experiences. Depending on the who the person is, they will have different experiences during their life which give them the correct characteristics to become a leader. Something that I can relate to is my experience with sports. I think if people play sports throughout their life they can gain leadership qualities due to the competitive aspects that come along with it. Not only that, I think who the person is surrounded by their whole life will influence their leadership qualities. Whether that ay be your parents, siblings, or friends, if you surround yourself with people who are leaders themselves you may tend to take on some of the same qualities. Overall, I think leadership is more nurture rather than nature and comes from the people that surround you.

Genetics are everything, and they without a doubt scientifically contribute to who we are. So yes, someone with strong leadership abilities did get to that point via genetics, in part. However, I believe that the primary contribution to a person's strong leadership qualities is his/her experiences. Of course, there is such thing as a "born leader," and it is someone who inherits their leadership through lineage. Although, these "born leaders" do not always inherit the leadership skills of their parent. An example of this is evident in Kim Il-sung's influential leadership in North Korea being inherited by his son, Kim Il-sung, who is now responsible for the unfortunate state that his country is in. Overall, nurture is the most contributing factor towards one's leadership skills. 

Some individuals are born or inherit traits that are favorable to being a leader. However, not all of these individuals use these traits to lead. Sometimes you meet an individual who is a strong communicator, but they do not use this skill to be a leader of those around them. Thus, the aspect of actually being a leader is something that is nurtured or developed. You may be born with these traits, but you must learn how to use them with a leadership perspective. On the other hand, some may not be born with the traits of a leader, but can develop these traits through real-world experiences, leadership workshops, etc.