by Jan Kelleter

Created on: January 23, 2010

Is leadership an instinct or learned?

Leadership has long been defined as someone who has the ability to engage a group in completing a task greater than what was expected of them. Could natural instinctive ability be the culprit? Or a knowledge based experience that allows an individual to escape the norm to perform with such success?

A great leader creates a path for one to follow with the acceptance and complete devotion to finish the determined path. Before, during, and after the path is created is where the key to the question is answered: “ Is leadership an instinct or learned?” Pursuing the answer requires us to look beyond the normal meaning of leadership in to which involves not just a human side but also that of a physical portion.

Imagine a locomotive leading the way, guiding or pulling behind the numerous “following” cars in a line moving forward. Within this context the locomotive is designed to lead on a set of pre-determined alignments and destinations. In retrospect, the physical leading of the train is manufactured or built to move forward in direction. The leading train has in fact learned by stationary and repetitive mechanics. Therefore, the physical side of leadership is learned.

The human instinct has long been a topic of conversations. Information regarding the meaning of instinct is filled with complexities. In order to simplify, instinct is the natural ability or act that we derive from the moment of birth. We are all born with instinctive abilities. The majority of those instincts we all have, but some individuals have more than others. This could be the result of many variables including: environment, situation, culture, success, and failure. How can we correspond instinct with leadership? We can justify instinct on the human side by the example of a child trying to walk. The child instinctively crawls then over time begins to walk. However, during the process of walking, the child does not walk immediately. Through various combinations and falling down, the child learns to walk. In light of this, the child would never have learned to walk without the instinct to do so.

In examining the two scenarios between relativity in corresponding facts attributing to leadership stated above, one could come to the conclusion that leadership is both instinctive and learned. Which product is more important is up to the person leading and the situation presented at the time. Great leaders instinctively learn to accomplish tasks and overcome situations in a successful manner.

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