• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cornerstone International Group

Executive Search Firm

About Cornerstone

About Cornerstone

The Cornerstone Edge

AESC

Leadership Team

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Become a Partner

Play Video

Get to know Cornerstone

Retained Executive Search

Discover

Retained Executive Search

Assessments

Specializations

Consumer / FMCG

Industrial

Non-Profit

Finance & Private Equity

Life Science & Health

More...

Find an Office

North America

Latin America

Europe / Middle East

Asia

 Find an Office

 Find a Search Consultant

Coaching / Leadership Dev

Discover

Executive Coaching Services

Leadership Development

Board & CEO Advisory Services

Assessments

Find a Coach

News / Blog

News & Blog Posts

National Outlooks

Videos

Surveys

Press Releases

Popular Blog Topics

COVID-19

diversity

leadership development

Healthcare

executive search

executive coaching

women in business

Life Science

neuroscience

vitality quotient

Latest Blog Post

Asia’s Fast-Growing EV Market Will Disrupt Automotive Industry Recruitment

June 2, 2022
Contact
Blog Are Natural Leaders the Only Kind?
Dec 21

Are Natural Leaders the Only Kind?

Cornerstone International Group

Since school days we’ve been exposed to natural leaders – people who tend to take charge among their peers and are the popular choice to captain teams and lead groups.

A good example is David Beckham who retired from professional soccer this year after leading his team, Paris St. Germain, to victory and the top of the French table in his final game.

David Beckham #23 in action during his US period

When Beckham was on the field he was a natural leader — from his days as a 17-year-old rookie with Manchester United all the way to his retirement this year at 38. England’s national coach, Steve McClaren, described him as “always doing extra on the training field. He inspired his team-mates through his performances… He was a leader, people followed him.”

 

Can Anyone Lead?

Many people believe some people are born with innate leadership qualities. Yet there is a significant industry built on developing and cultivating leaders, based on the premise that with the right education, training, and coaching almost anyone can become an effective leader.

There is no simple answer to the question of whether leaders are born or made. The evidence supporting natural-born leadership is strong, but there are ample examples of those who have developed as effective leaders and executives. Some people rise to the occasion in a crisis, others are mentored; some take advantage of advancement opportunities, still others appear to mature over time.

However, being a capable leader in principle and achieving exceptional results that are sustainable is another matter altogether.

Leadership is situational – knowing how and when to provide the right combination of direction and support is critical to the achievement of results.

 

Leaders face multiple challenges

Effective leaders must adapt to multiple variables, including: individual personalities and behaviours; team, organizational, and national cultures; competitive, customer, and other marketplace dynamics; government regulations and policies; organizational competencies and capacity; resource and system constraints; process complexity; resistance to change; power and politics; and product opportunities and limitations.

Researchers found that great leaders such as Sir Winston Churchill may have possessed a ‘leadership gene’

A leader who is over-reliant on his or her innate talents, one who fails to learn, adapt, and grow will ultimately meet his or her limitations. A leader who relies exclusively on formal training and development in a manner that is prescriptive or repetitive will fail to adjust and thrive in a turbulent marketplace.

While anyone can step forward and study leadership, not everyone will become an effective leader, and many simply do not wish to lead.
We can learn from leaders good and bad. We may actually learn more from the bad examples, given our emotional reactions to bullying, abuse, and incompetence. Too often, leaders ascend for the wrong reasons – they may be Machiavellian, aggressive, or intimidating; they may do whatever it takes to ingratiate themselves with decision-makers; or they may simply emulate what got their bosses ahead.

Because people are in leadership positions does not mean they are effective leaders.

The fact is, truly effective leadership requires a lifelong commitment to self-discovery, adaptation, refinement, and growth – developing new skills and insights to deal with ever-changing challenges. It is a daunting calling requiring constant vigilance, the willingness to learn, and the courage to stand alone. The best leaders are students as well as teachers; followers and initiators; humble and confident.

Effective, sustainable leadership is neither a formula to follow, a set of “best practices,” nor something one can truly ever “master.” It is a continuous complex journey of discovery.

30
SHARES
LinkedinFacebookTweetShareEmailPrint

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Inspiring leaders, leadership, leadership traits

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

  • News
    • Blog
    • National Outlooks
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletters
    • Surveys
    • Articles of Interest
    • Whitepapers
    • Videos

Get Latest Posts and Stay Informed

Our thought leaders share their industry knowledge and expertise.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent News

  • PRESS RELEASE: Cornerstone International Group Recognized as a Global Leader in Executive Talent Search June 21, 2022
  • The Cornerstone Eagle – June 2022 – Impactful Leadership June 17, 2022
  • Asia’s Fast-Growing EV Market Will Disrupt Automotive Industry Recruitment June 2, 2022

News / Blog Archives

Footer

Areas of Specialization

  • by Industry
    • Life Science & Health
    • Financial Services PE & Family Office
    • Industrial
    • Consumer
    • Technology
    • Private Equity
    • Infrastructure & EPC
  • by Function
    • Board Directors & CEO
    • Human Resources
    • Finance and Legal
    • Agile Talent
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Operations & Supply Chain

Quick Browse

  • Find an Office
  • Find a Consultant
  • Find a Coach

Services

  • Retained Executive Search
  • Board & CEO Advisory
  • Executive Coaching

About Us

  • About Cornerstone
  • The Cornerstone Edge
  • Join Cornerstone

Switch Language

Connect with Cornerstone

Copyright © 2022 · Cornerstone International Group · Sitemap

Website Development by LimeCuda

Member-Only Portal