The Art of Leadership - Video 3

Summary

The script explores the age-old debate of whether leaders are born or made. It emphasizes that leadership is not innate but a skill acquired through learning, practice, and mentorship. The discussion highlights the importance of values, public speaking, and persuasion in leadership development, and busts the myth that leadership is a birthright.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The debate on whether leaders are born or made is a central theme in leadership literature.
• 🌟 Historical and contemporary figures like Alexander the Great, Mahatma Gandhi, MLK, and Barack Obama are often cited as examples of 'born leaders' with innate qualities.
• 🏗️ The development of leadership skills takes time and involves learning and practicing various abilities such as public speaking, values, and belief systems.
• 📈 Leadership is not solely about genetics; it is a social science that involves learning and experience.
• 🔍 Aristotle's triangle of ethos, pathos, and logos is highlighted as essential leadership skills, emphasizing credibility, logical reasoning, and persuasive communication.
• 👂 The concept of genetic endowment suggests that certain innate characteristics can influence leadership potential but do not define it.
• 👥 Leadership is a state that can be achieved through deliberate practice, education, and mentorship.
• 📚 The importance of learning experiences and seeking out opportunities for growth within an organization is underscored.
• 🗣️ Mentorship plays a crucial role in leadership development, providing feedback, coaching, and new perspectives.
• 👂 Being coachable is a fundamental skill for effective leadership, allowing individuals to learn, adapt, and influence others.
• 🚀 The script concludes with a call to action for individuals to invest in their leadership journey, emphasizing that leadership is made, not born.

Q & A

Is leadership an innate quality or something that is learned and developed over time?

Leadership is not innate; it is learned and developed over time through the acquisition of skills, experiences, and values.

What are some examples of leaders mentioned in the script who are considered to have innate leadership qualities?

Examples include Alexander the Great, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Barack Obama, and Nelson Mandela.

What are the key skills that leaders need to develop according to the script?

Key skills include public speaking, having a set of values and belief systems, mobilizing, motivating, setting agendas, and communicating effectively.

What is the significance of ethos, pathos, and logos in the context of leadership as mentioned by Aristotle?

Ethos refers to credibility, pathos to persuasive communication, and logos to logical reasoning. These are all skills that contribute to effective leadership.

Can someone from a prominent family have an advantage in terms of leadership credibility?

While someone from a prominent family might have some initial advantage, true credibility is earned over time through actions and demonstrated leadership.

What is the role of genetic endowment in leadership according to the script?

Genetic endowment can provide certain characteristics that can be used in leadership, such as a booming voice, but it does not define leadership itself.

What does the script suggest about the nature of leadership as a 'state' rather than a 'trait'?

Leadership is considered a state because it is something that can be achieved and developed by anyone through learning and practice, rather than being a fixed trait one is born with.

How can someone maximize their learning experiences to become a leader?

One can take on roles or jobs that provide opportunities for learning and growth, seek mentorship, and engage in deliberate practice and education.

What is the importance of mentorship in the development of leadership skills?

Mentorship is crucial as it provides feedback, coaching, and new ideas, helping individuals to expand their perspectives and learn from the experiences of others.

Why is being coachable considered a fundamental skill for effective leadership?

Being coachable allows individuals to listen, learn, and follow advice, which not only aids their own development but also equips them to coach and mentor others effectively.

How does the script refute the myth of leaders being born rather than made?

The script refutes the myth by emphasizing research findings that leadership skills are learned and influenced more by non-genetic factors, and by highlighting the importance of intentional learning and experience.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 The Nature vs. Nurture of Leadership

This paragraph delves into the age-old debate of whether leaders are born with innate qualities or if leadership is cultivated through experience and learning. It highlights various historical figures known for their leadership, such as Alexander the Great, Mahatma Gandhi, and Barack Obama, and discusses the idea that these individuals may have had an 'innate leadership quality.' The speaker argues that while some may possess certain genetic endowments that can aid in leadership roles, true leadership is developed over time through the acquisition of skills like public speaking, value systems, and the ability to motivate and persuade. The paragraph introduces Aristotle's concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos as essential leadership skills that are learned rather than inherited.

05:00

📚 Debunking the 'Born Leader' Myth

The second paragraph focuses on dispelling the myth that leadership is an inherent trait by emphasizing the importance of learning and intentional development. It mentions research, including studies on twins, which suggest that leadership skills are significantly influenced by non-genetic factors. The paragraph reinforces the idea that leadership is a state that anyone can achieve with the right combination of education, practice, experience, and mentorship. The role of mentors in providing feedback, coaching, and expanding perspectives is underscored, as is the importance of being coachable and open to learning from others. The summary concludes by encouraging individuals to invest in their leadership development, thereby challenging the notion of being a 'born leader' and promoting the concept of leadership as a skill set that can be acquired and refined.

Keywords

💡Leadership

Leadership in this context refers to the ability to guide and influence others towards achieving a common goal. It is central to the video's theme, as it explores whether leaders are born with innate qualities or if they develop these skills over time. The script discusses various historical figures and their leadership styles, emphasizing that leadership is a skill that can be learned and honed.

💡Innate Leadership Quality

The concept of 'innate leadership quality' suggests that some individuals are naturally predisposed to be leaders. The video script challenges this notion, arguing that while some people may have certain characteristics that could be advantageous in leadership roles, these are not definitive determinants of leadership success. Instead, the script emphasizes the importance of learning and developing leadership skills.

💡Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking skills are mentioned as an essential component of leadership development. These skills allow leaders to effectively communicate their vision and ideas to others. The script suggests that these skills are not inherent but are developed over time through practice and experience.

💡Values and Belief Systems

Values and belief systems are described as the foundational principles that guide a leader's actions and decisions. The script highlights that part of becoming a leader involves adopting a set of values and beliefs that drive their behavior and influence their leadership style.

💡Credibility

Credibility is a key aspect of leadership, as it involves the trust and respect that others place in a leader. The script argues that credibility is earned over time through actions and behaviors, rather than being an innate quality. It is a critical factor in gaining followers and leading effectively.

💡Logos

Logos, as mentioned in the script, refers to the use of logical reasoning in leadership. It is one of the components of Aristotle's triangle of persuasion, which the script references. Leaders must be able to think critically and make decisions based on sound reasoning, which is a skill that can be developed and refined.

💡Pathos

Pathos, another component of Aristotle's triangle, relates to the emotional appeal in communication. In the context of the video, it is discussed as an essential skill for leaders to persuade and motivate others. The script suggests that pathos, like other leadership skills, is learned and not an innate trait.

💡Ethos

Ethos, the third component of Aristotle's triangle, pertains to the character and credibility of the speaker. The script uses ethos to illustrate how leaders establish trust and credibility, which are crucial for effective leadership. It is presented as a skill that is built over time through consistent behavior and actions.

💡Genetic Endowment

The concept of 'genetic endowment' is introduced to acknowledge that certain physical or personality traits might influence a person's potential for leadership. However, the script clarifies that while these traits can be part of one's makeup, they do not define leadership and must be used effectively in the context of leadership.

💡Mentorship

Mentorship is highlighted as a vital part of the leadership development process. The script discusses how mentors provide guidance, feedback, and coaching, which can help aspiring leaders learn and grow. It emphasizes the importance of being coachable and receptive to advice from mentors.

💡Coachability

Coachability is defined as the ability to be receptive to guidance and feedback. The script underscores its importance in leadership, suggesting that being open to learning and adjusting one's approach is crucial for personal growth and effective leadership. It is presented as a skill that can be developed and is essential for both personal and professional success.

Highlights

The debate over whether leaders are born or made is a longstanding question in leadership literature.

Examining leaders like Alexander the Great, Mahatma Gandhi, MLK, Malcolm X, Barack Obama, and Nelson Mandela reveals they all had innate leadership qualities.

Leadership is often seen as being in one's DNA or inherent qualities that manifest in how they show up.

Leaders are made over many years, developing skills in public speaking, values, and belief systems essential for leadership.

Becoming a leader involves adopting a set of unique values and beliefs that drive actions and decisions.

Aristotle's triangle of ethos, pathos, and logos is highlighted as key leadership skills - credibility, logical reasoning, and persuasive communication.

Credibility is earned over time and is not simply given due to one's background or family.

Logos emphasizes the importance of logical reasoning in leadership, a skill that must be learned and demonstrated.

Pathos refers to the ability to persuasively communicate, another skill that is developed rather than innate.

The concept of genetic endowment suggests we are born with certain characteristics that can be utilized in leadership.

However, genetic endowments alone do not define leadership; they must be applied effectively towards leadership development.

Leadership is a social science and a skill that is acquired, not an inherent trait one is born with.

Research, including studies of twins, shows leadership skills are more influenced by non-genetic factors and learning.

Leadership is described as a state, not a trait, meaning anyone can become a leader with the right skills and experiences.

The importance of learning experiences in growing as a leader, even within an organization, is emphasized.

Education and mentorship are invaluable in the leadership development process, providing the blueprint for becoming a leader.

Mentorship provides feedback, coaching, and new ideas, helping expand one's perspective and learn to be a better leader.

Coachability is a fundamental skill for leaders, involving listening, following advice, and suspending one's own judgment.

Transcripts

so S I need your help uh to sort of

understand uh this this question that

sort of dogs the leadership uh

literature uh and the field quite a bit

are you born leader right uh from birth

you were said that's the leader that's

what it's going to be or are you made a

leader do you become a leader do you

learn to be a leader um you know when I

see my views of leadership from

Alexander the Great to Mahatma Gandhi

uh to

MLK uh uh Malcolm X uh um to Barack

Obama uh to NASA Mandela you know we we

see amazing

figures uh who uh even with Teresa who

who sort of who all look different and

do different things but in many ways uh

have this innate leadership quality like

it's just in their bones it's in their

DNA it's in their uh in how they show up

um what do you think I think that

absolutely leaders are made all these

fantastic leaders that you just named

were many years in the making if you

think about any one of those leaders and

they developed many skills along the way

public speaking skills values and belief

systems that every leader needs to adopt

by the way part of becoming a leader is

to have a set of values and beliefs that

you uniquely hold yes that drives all

that you do an example of that is what

is your philosophy of human

behavior do you trust people and Empower

do you control people in order to make

them do things so you need to make

decisions on your own that's part of the

leadership development Journey but as

you described all these fabulous leaders

they learned skills around how to

mobilize how to motivate how to set an

agenda how to um uh convey and

communicate that agenda how to persuade

um there's there's this

Aristotle uh um uh triangle that I love

where he talks about ethos pathos and

logos as uh

leadership skills ethos speaks to

credibility yes all the leaders you

described have credibility and they've

earned those credibility they weren't

born with the credibility logos but does

but wait wait a second does that you

know if you come from a big family if

you were like XYZ kid of XYZ don't you

get a lot of credibility given to you

anyway no okay if you think about those

folks they might have some advantage

but this credibility is absolutely

earned and it's it's um it manifests in

what you say what you do and it's

observable yeah so in fact um unless you

have developed these uh credentials over

time or credibility over time it's very

difficult to have people follow you the

second uh piece that Aristotle has

advanced called logos is incred

important because it speaks to logical

reason that's a skill people have to

believe that you have logical reasoning

the capacity to um intu it Based on data

and other things and finally uh he talks

about pathos that's communication skills

that's the ability to persuasively

convey to to others those are learned

skills no one is born with them now I'll

Grant you this uh there 's this concept

called genetic endowment by a Stanford

University uh scholar uh by the name of

Schwarz who says that we all are born

with certain characteristics we do have

them and that's part of what we use in

our careers in our lives we can't ignore

that so someone with a booming voice you

use that to communicate but the booming

voice doesn't Define your leadership so

they're they're genetic endowments that

are part of our makeup but and and and

once we know how to use them towards

good and Leadership we can apply them so

there's that piece of it in terms of our

Birthright but otherwise leadership is a

Social Science Leadership is a skill

you're absolutely not born as a leader

you become one yeah so let's get their

view let's I love for you to now sort of

uh think about both points right think

about uh uh the arguments for why

leaders are born uh again reflect back

on your own perspectives and what you've

come up with and then also given what s

doll soless were the points for leaders

being made be being a real practice

because this conversation between

yourselves will be helpful because many

people have this view that leaders are

born so write that write that down and

even if you don't think that write it

down because just take the opposite view

think about your friends who might be

saying that think about your family MERS

are being said are saying that and write

down those points and then then write

down the points about leaders being made

sadal Let's just bust this myth about

being a born leader uh what do we know

from research what do you know from your

experiences what do you mean from your o

what do you know from your own mentoring

of other leaders what what what's the

what's the answer here the answer here

of course can you bust the myth let's I

mean it's busted we need to keep it

busted uh is that uh re research shows

that leadership skills are not innate

that they're learned number one and

they've been so many studies including

of twins so genetic genetic genetic born

the same minute the same family the same

family the same social context the same

socioeconomic scenario and um found that

leadership was more influenced by non-

gentic factors it's all about the

learning and the intention to become a

leader so the reason I love this

conversation that we're having is that

ultimately leadership is a state not a

trait and anyone can become a leader

wait wait say say more State not a

leadership is a state and not a trait

and that

anyone can become a leader yeah and

that's what we hope that you take away

from this perspective right that all of

you have the small L you got to make it

a big L that requires skill building

practice education having mentors all

those elements that that allow you to

become mate as a leader and experiences

yeah so learning experiences are

incredibly uh important even if you want

to grow within an organization take the

types of jobs that maximizes your

learning uh over time uh you will end up

in a position to take over and lead in

some capacity but you always will start

small necessarily but so uh the

education is important a program like

this is invaluable in my mind because

we're actually um giving you the

blueprint yes yes so I think we've done

the the the deed we have busted finally

the myth about uh leaders being born we

feel that leaders are made we feel we

know not sorry not feel we know we know

that leaders are made and um your job

your call

should be to make this a practice make

this something that you invest in you

deliberately invest in you deliberately

acquire the experiences you deliberately

acquire the education and you

deliberately acquire the mentors that

are going to actually help you make uh

become better leaders too and can you

say a little bit more about mentorship

like how how how can I learn to be

leader from other leaders mentorship is

so important because on the one hand you

get feedback you get coaching you get

ideas and a great way to use mentors um

it could even be peer mentors right

those who have a little bit more

experienced than you is to seek advice

to get counsel I do that all the time

with you right when I say when I say hey

what do you think of this uh what should

I do and you

say please have them think of it this

way and it really expands my per my

perspective and so seeking advice SE

seeking counsel seeking opportunities

whether it's volunteering if you're able

uh or not um uh if you can even get a

small job and so uh mentors can be very

helpful in that way and ultimately you

have to be coachable oh say more seeking

mentors if and if you're not coachable

is not going to work tell tell me more

coachability is a fundamental skill

that's really important that is to learn

to listen to learn to follow advice to

learn to suspend your own judgment even

if you disagree she tells me that all

the time stop K stop stop your

judgmental stuff just listen just listen

listen and learn before you take action

being coachable will make you a

fantastic leader because not only will

you learn and be influenced but guess

what you'll know how to coach

others all right so there you are

leaders are made and we hope you're on

the journey to becoming a leader