How Do You Teach Leadership

Abstract

Many authors and professional educators have written countless theories, books, and articles on leadership, what makes a leader, and if leadership could be taught. Many of the experts in the field of leadership have not come to a final conclusion, can you teach leadership. Much of the research dealing with how do you teach leadership focuses in three areas, it is a born gift (trait leadership), it is taught (lecture/classroom), or it is learned (life experiences). Many professional educators still cannot determine which of these areas is the dominate way to develop leadership. During this literature review, examples will be given of outstanding United Stated Air Force personnel that served as great leaders and determine if leadership is a born gift, taught, or learned. The ultimate question will be answered, “How do you teach leadership?”

Introduction

When an individual enlists in the United Stated Air Force, they do not enter expecting to fill a leadership position right away. However, upon entering basic training the Military Training Instructor will assign someone as the flight leader. If the Air Force will take someone fresh off the street and expect them to become a leader, it begs the question, “How do you teach leadership?” According to Dr. Satterlee, “Leadership is easily defined, but the nature of leadership depends of the effectiveness of the leader (Satterlee, 2009, pg. 110).”

When the Air Force looks at whom to make the flight leader at basic training, they take certain things into consideration. The first consideration is age of the person; someone who is a little older than those just out of high school will make a better leader. Second is whether or not the individual has any college credits because that individual may have some education is leadership.

In the Air Force, individuals go through many facets of learning and developing of their leadership principles. They receive training on the job and gain...