Are Leaders Born or Made?

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Permalink Reply by Misty Brunnmeier on January 13, 2010 at 11:24am

My initial reaction is: both. After struggling to make a decision, my official response is that leaders are made. I feel that the events that one experiences in life put them in the position to choose to take action or stand on the sidelines, therefore, I feel that leaders are made. In my experience, personally and based on observation of the leaders in my life, circumstances push or pull a person into taking action and making a stand, thus thrusting them into leadership.

Personally, I suffered severe and mysterious bleeding episodes that perplexed my medical practitioners for over ten years. The frustration and confusion was just as bad as the physical problems. When I was finally diagnosed and given the proper medication and network of people to become involved in, I found help and also became aware of many other problems with health insurance issues, education, awareness and access to medical care -or lack thereof. After getting very involved with the bleeding disorders community, I learned as much as I could and have volunteered for many years, I have seen needs increase significantly and very few people step up to take action and attack the issues to improve and resolve them.

I feel a personal responsibility to step up and do whatever I can to help the situation. I am committed to dedicating my skills and my passions to improve the bleeding community by developing a National Awareness Campaign for vonWillebrands Disease. I am also working towards setting up an infrastructure to support the growing community. Others may define what I am doing as stepping up to be a leader, I prefer to classify what I am doing as simply the right thing to do regardless of the label.

My point is that my circumstances pushed me into action. This concept is not new, almost every leader in any capacity has a "story" or a "reason" why or how they became involved in a cause or a community regardless if the circumstances were positive,negative, emotionally charged or simply a matter of interest.

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Permalink Reply by Rapport Leadership on January 13, 2010 at 4:26pm

Thanks for your response Misty. Many share your view that leaders are made, and like you some have found themselves in leadership roles as a result of their circumstances.

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Permalink Reply by Jenifer Tate on January 14, 2010 at 7:11am

I say leaders are made…People have huge capacities for learning. And if one so desires—through work, learning, training, coaching, and mentoring— I believe one can do almost anything you set your mind to. In every person lies the capacity to improve and more closer to one's goal.

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