Can Leadership Be Learned

Can leadership be learned?

Abstract

Today’s business environment is increasingly dependent on the ability of a company to function through a very dynamic globalized setting. For today’s business leaders and those in charge of developing leaders within their ranks, to study the aspects behind leader development and leadership success is not only a wise decision but also a great responsibility. Is a leader born or can he/she be made? This paper analyzes formal contemporary studies of leader emergence and development to include personality traits, behaviors and situational factors which express leadership as both innate and formally adopted.

Table of Contents

Introduction 5-8

Overview 8-9

Distinctive Aspects 10-14

Trait Theory of Leadership 14-17

Situational Leadership Model 17-20

Implications 20-23

Summary and Conclusion 23-25

References 26-29

Introduction

The meaning of “leadership” has been molded into numerous different meanings throughout history. Leaders have been depicted within an array of backgrounds to include prophets, kings, chiefs, idols, gods, government officials and inspirational individuals throughout the history. “The word leader dates back as early as the year 1300 but the word “leadership” did not appear until the first half of the nineteenth century” (Wren, 2008, p.50). The term “leadership” however, dates back as early as the Egyptians and Roman Greeks. “Throughout history, leadership has been defined by specific attributes that a leader is thought to have. There is not a right or wrong definition of leadership, but it is important to know the roots and history behind the term” (Coburn, 2008).

Leadership is often defined as an intangible and usually difficult quality to define. However, it is not difficult to distinguish the traits of a good leader. A leader is someone who has the ability to lead a group,...