Analyzing Leadership: Impact of Personality, Skill-Set, Environment

This essay explores the enduring debate of whether leaders are born with innate qualities or developed through their environment. It examines three key themes: personality, skill sets, and the environment. Regarding personality, it discusses both the genetic predisposition to leadership traits, exemplified by Martin Luther King, and the development of personality through environmental factors, as seen in Jeff Bezos. In terms of skill sets, the essay contrasts the idea of inborn talents, illustrated by Angelina Jolie's inherited acting ability, with the acquisition of skills through training and experience, demonstrated by Steve Jobs. Finally, it analyzes whether leaders are naturally gifted or shaped by their environment, citing Nelson Mandela as an example of a naturally inspiring leader and Bill Gates as a leader who acquired skills to motivate and influence others. The essay concludes by suggesting that leadership is a complex interplay of both innate traits and environmental influences.

Running head: LEADERSHIP TRAITS
LEADERSHIP TRAITS
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Author's note:

1LEADERSHIP TRAITS
1. PERSONALITY COMES BY BIRTH OR MADE?
a) Personality comes by birth: personality brings individuality based on which one ca be
identified in a crowd of people. It is the sum total of physical, emotional, psychological and
social characteristics which according to the psychologists are mainly passed down by the
genetic materials. To genetics, the children are born with some personality traits which they
carry from their parents. In this aspect Martin Luther King can be named who had leadership
personality which he inherited by birth hence did not have to acquire.
b) Personality comes by made: on the contrary to the biologists, the behavioral study discloses
the fact that there are ample instances where the individuals are born as blank slates but
develop through the elements of their environment. According to the experts, by exposing
the individuals to an aggressive as well as a non-aggressive model from their very childhood
(Vadastreanu, Maier and Maier 2015). For example, Jeff Bezos has become a leader from an
American technology entrepreneur who developed personality to match the requirement of
the firm and employees.
SKILL SET comes by birth or made?
a) SKILL SET COMES BY BIRTH: despite the fact that the individuals do not born with skills and
knowledge but they biologically possess some talents which they inherit from their parents.
As talent is inborn, the people can be easily able to do some particular activities more
efficiently than others. This is due to the fact that they easily learn or have more physical
advantages which help them to develop skills easily. Famous Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie
had a famous father Jon Voight who was also an actor.
b) SKILL SET COMES ONLY BY MADE: according to the behaviorists, skills are completely
learned. The skills like musical ideas, painting and dancing are needed to be taught as these
can never be inborn talents. Moreover, the necessary skills that the individuals apply in
solving complex jobs are completely acquired through trainings (Overall 2016). In this
regard Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Inc. can be named who was adopted by Paul Jobs.
As he was a machinist hence Steve grew up with the guidance of a highly skilled father and
acquired skills which has no connection with genetics.
Does environment show effect to make a leader or leaders are by naturally
a) LEADERS BORN NATURALLY, ENVIRONMENTS DOES NOT SHOW EFFECT: according to
leadership theory, the leaders are not born as leaders but they do possess some traits which
make them more interesting then the others (Kilduff et al. 2016). They may possess
motivation quality or great communication talents which attract others towards them
making them leaders of all. Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest leaders of all times who
had inborn talents to move people towards the ultimate truth despite the fact that he did
not have any trainings to be a leader.
b) LEADERS ARE MADE BY ENVIRONMENT: most of the business leaders possess acquired skills
which are needed to motivate their employees and other associates. These can never be
inborn. Environment teach them how to manage people and situations. Thus, the business

2LEADERSHIP TRAITS
leaders grow their experience and learn to influence their subordinates for accomplishing
the desired goals. Bill Gates is one of the highly celebrated business leaders who acquired
knowledge about leading people effectively. He applied the methods of motivating people to
reach the pinnacle of success.

3LEADERSHIP TRAITS
References:
Kilduff, G.J., Galinsky, A.D., Gallo, E. and Reade, J.J., 2016. Whatever it takes to win:
Rivalry increases unethical behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 59(5), pp.1508-1534.
Overall, J., 2016. Unethical behavior in organizations: empirical findings that challenge CSR
and egoism theory. Business Ethics: A European Review, 25(2), pp.113-127.
Vadastreanu, A.M., Maier, D. and Maier, A., 2015. Is the success possible in compliance
with ethics and deontology in business?. Procedia Economics and Finance, 26, pp.1068-
1073.