Are Leaders Born

or Made?
Write a definition of the word “ leader”: …………………………….
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1. CLASS DEBATE:
 The group debating that leaders are born argue that
certain innate traits are needed in order to develop into an
outstanding leader when life experiences and circumstances
present themselves.
 The group debating that leaders are made argue that
training, hard work, and experiences result in the
development of outstanding leaders.

2. Think of 5 qualities a person should possess: write them

in order of importance.
1……………………………………..
2………………………………………
3………………………………………
4………………………………………
5………………………………………

3. HISTORY: think of 3 people who went down in history for

being great leaders.
1…………………………………………………………
2…………………………………………………………
3………………………………………………………….
Leadership Traits
1. Accepting Responsibility
How to Accept Responsibility
 Do more than you’re required to do
 Show up on time 
 Admit mistakes
 Apologize when necessary
 Don’t shift blame onto others
 Offer solutions to problems without being prompted

2. Constant Learning
The best leaders have an unyielding appetite for learning. They’re
constantly looking for new information. As Bill Gates said in an
interview with The Guardian, “I try to make time for reading each night.
In addition to the usual newspapers and magazines, I make it a priority to
read at least one newsweekly from cover to cover. If I were to read only
what intrigues me—say, the science and business sections—then I would
finish the magazine the same person I was when I started. So I read it
all.”

Some of the world’s most prominent business leaders have a reputation

for wanting to learn all the time. Jan Koum, the co-founder and former
CEO of WhatsApp, lived in extreme poverty in Ukraine before moving to
the U.S. where he faced even more difficulties. However, his desire to
learn never faded. After only two years in the United States, Koum taught
himself computer programming. He even joined a hacking group so he
could learn all about cybersecurity, scalability, and networking. All of
this hands-on learning would eventually pay off, and today, Koum has a
net worth of almost $10 billion.

How to Keep Learning

 Read books, magazines, newspapers, and web articles about a
variety of subjects
 Set aside time each day for reading
  Ask questions from people in other industries
 Keep an open mind

3. Motivating to Action
Great leaders hone in on the ability to inspire other people to action.
When on a team, they keep their teammates focused on the goal,
motivating them every step of the way. At times when frustration may set
in, they raise everyone’s spirits. Some business leaders, like Elon Musk,
aim to motivate people by sharing an inspirational vision. For years,
Musk has talked about the importance of space exploration, setting goals
many thought unachievable (such as having a million people living on
Mars by the year 2050). There’s little doubt his employees share that
vision and feel motivated by his words and infectious enthusiasm. The
sign of a great leader is motivating people to see the seemingly
impossible as possible.

How to Motivate Others

 Keep an optimistic attitude
 Focus on the positive and don’t dwell on the negative
 Encourage others to become the best version of themselves
 Share a vision and help others see it

4. Adapting to Changes
No matter the industry, change always happens. Effective leaders can
adapt to those changes. They see change as an opportunity to grow and
learn. They never take the more pessimistic route and think of change as
bad. If anything, they view it all as a challenge to overcome and help
other people see it that way, as well.

The ability to adapt goes hand in hand with the constant learning trait
discussed above. If a leader always looks for new things to learn, they’ll
be in a much better position to adapt to whatever changes occur. They
remain focused on their goals but are flexible enough to react to the
changing world around them. Returning to the Elon Musk example,
SpaceX deals with constant new developments and discoveries that
change the landscape of space exploration, but Musk remains firm in his
commitment to his vision. SpaceX adapts to technological changes and
learns from failed rocket launches to become a better company.
How to Adapt
 Stay calm as changes happen
 Take the time to learn as much about why the change is happening
 Face changes with courage and determination
 Stay focused on goals

5. Showing Empathy
Most people tend to think of great leaders as excellent public speakers
and outgoing personalities. While it’s true charisma plays a role in
developing followers, that doesn’t mean only extroverts make great
leaders. Introverts can be leaders too because much of leadership boils
down to how much emotional intelligence a person has.

Emotional intelligence consists of the leadership skills needed to employ

feelings for motivation, planning, and forming bonds with other people.
Empathy is part of that equation. Showing empathy means understanding
what others are feeling and connecting with them on an emotional level.
It’s how leaders solve conflicts, raise spirits, and act appropriately in any
social setting.

How to Show Empathy

 Encourage people to voice their opinions and questions
 Support others when they’re struggling
 Praise others when they succeed
 Settle disagreements with compassion and understanding

HOMEWORK: In a small essay of 150 words, discuss the

most important character traits that a person should possess into
order to become a leader.