History

Future Benefits of Leader Development

David Cook

United States Army Sergeants Major Academy

Class 39

Tuynuykua Jackson

09 September 2012

Abstract

There are many beliefs concerning leader development within today’s society which leads us to the question “Are leaders born or developed”? Some believe leaders are developed through the school of hard knocks and toughness whereas others believe leaders are developed through creative thinking and the environment in which we are developed. Leaders come from all aspects of the world with different cultures, beliefs, religions and countries. Leaders take on the responsibility of leading the fight whether the fight is in wartime of within the United States on a peace time mission. For example, Hurricane Katrina’s devastation was brought under control with leadership. None the less, leaders lead their followers whether the followers are a few or many in an effort to develop a single solution. Regardless of how these traits are implemented into one’s personal abilities, leadership skills will be of an utmost enhancement in future endeavors whether they are military or civilian.

As stated previously, some believe leaders are born where as some believe leaders are developed. It is with personal belief; people are born with the traits of becoming a leader or even a great leader with the proper development throughout the developmental stages of our lives. The school of hard knocks isn’t what one would think as being developed from being beaten into submission. The school of hard knocks is nothing more than a school that teaches students in a way as to where each student will have to spend a lot of time studying rather than enjoying life and partying. Becoming a leader isn’t all fun and games. We must also work hard on developing leaders for both the current and future Army as well as civilian leaders. Leadership development starts with training at ground level or on page one to speak. Leadership training builds...