I dont think that everyone has leadership skills. Some are gifted with these skills others can not handle the role as a leader. Some take the authority and over do it.
According to the lecture material the team leader has (3) roles; initiator of processes that promote team development and performance, model desired behaviors, coach the team to improve performance. To continue the leader needs to be able to; set directions, communicate well, to give and accept feedback, have high standards of performance, have a positive attitude toward team work, and experience with team based work.
While I believe that most of us are teachable - team leader should want to lead the team. In the classroom I often put students in team, either that they choice, or I choose for them. A leader will naturally surface - however, they may not have the best qualities as listed above, as the team sponsor in this case, I would mentor them. Sometimes I find that a person that rises to the head of the group may be aggressive and loud and may not necessarily put the group above their own desires to be a leader.
Kevin,
That is an interesting position. Do you have any research that you found that shows that leadership qualities are innate and not a learned skill?
Dr. Jamie Morley
I believe anybody can as long as they believe or want to be a leader than they can. If a member of a team has no desire to be a leader than ther is little you can do to train them in becoming a leader.
David,
Your post made me smile. It reminds me of the quote that states, "Great leaders do not flock together; you find them one at a time." Many people can be trained to be a manager, but it is hard to make a manager a leader if that person does not have the innate abilities to lead.
Nice analogies.
Dr. Jamie Morley
To me it is like asking if anyone can be trained to paint portraits, or to play the piano.
The answer is yes.
However, certain tallents are essential to become fully proficient.
Often we do not know that we have hidden tallents, but more often we naturally gravitate to that which we are naturally inclined.
So, well yes, sort of....... :-)
Jamie,
I also agree that the leader characteristic has to be present within the individual for them to be successful. I feel that individuals without this characteristic would often not have any interest in becoming a leader.
I feel that the clarification of a what a manager is vs a leader is also helpful to this discussion. Our company often refers to managers as leaders, so I took the term a little too loosely for this discussion.
I do believe that leaders are born and strengthen their abilities over time. Managers can be trained to do specific tasks, but only a leader can develop their staff to reach higher levels of performance.
David,
This is an interesting perspective. I agree that people can be trained to effectively complete the tasks that are required of the position. An alternate perspective to think about is that there is a reason why job descriptions ask for a "Manager of XXX" and not a "Leader of XXX." This is because managers can be trained to do a task and to supervise and motivate others to do a task. However, in my opinion leadership is a characteristic that people can strengthen but if it is not an innate characteristic for that person, they won’t be a successful leader. To be a successful leader, people need to be inspired to follow you. No followers = no leader. In my experience, people that have an innate ability to lead, improve their leadership style by watching other leaders and receiving coaching like you suggest. Those that aren’t cut out to be leaders can still be good managers.
Great discussion!
Dr. Jamie Morley
I believe that most people who aspire to become a leader, already possess many of the traits that are required for effective or quality leadership.
Those who do not aspire to be leaders generally lack some of those traits.
However, I do believe that becoming an effective and high quality leader is a process that is learned over time. This is learned through making mistakes, observing other leaders and through coaching/mentoring by your direct leader.
So long story short, I do believe that those who really want to be a good leader can be "trained" to do the job. In the end, leadership is a set of skills, and like all skills, they are learned.
As expressed above, each individual has their own natural abilities or traits that can help expedite the "training" or learning process.
I think a more apropriate question would be "How much training?"
Given enough time, resources, and motivation, anyone can be trained to do almost anything.
Some of us are more naturaly equiped to lead, but we have learned those skills from someone in our life. As we develop personally and professionally, those who desire to lead automatically pick up and incorperate the leadership qualities we see and admire in others.
Some, simply desire to follow, and not asume responsability of leadership. Does that mean that these people could not or would not be able to learn how to lead a team? I think not, but they surely would not be as effective a leader as those of us who desire to lead, and have sought to learn how.
