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Can you teach leadership skills? Answering that age-old question!
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For several years, people have debated on this question - “Are leaders born or are they made?” While the answer to this disputed question is presented by both parties with various reasons, there must be a solid ground established that clarifies this dilemma. So, let us dissect the term leadership and find-out whether or not you can teach the art of leadership.
There are people who most certainly argue that leaders are born, that this particular trait is in-built and cannot be learnt over time. Is that really the case though? Can you not teach the skill of leadership? Can people not become great leaders with experience or practice?
The answer to the questions above is not as simple as it seems. There are people who are born leaders, the ones who have a knack for it from the very beginning and get better at it as they make progress in their careers. And there is this other lot that cannot become leaders, no matter how hard they try.
But somewhere in the middle of both these clans, lies this other lot, that isn’t a born leader but does become one with time. This is the area where a vast majority of the population lies, which goes to say, that most people who start off with mediocre leadership capabilities often turn out to be very good leaders. These are the ones who are “made leaders”.
So, of course! You can teach people the skill of leadership and to become leaders, the ones who have the power to lead their teammates, who help others in becoming self-aware and in progressing in their respective careers. You can put forth the crucial concepts of leadership and explain to them the nuances of becoming a great leader.
So, what should you do? If you know that you’re an okay leader but want to become great, what necessary steps should you take?
The first and possibly the only step to changing things around you is this: Become self-aware!
But before you let this thought process further, you need to understand that one thing that this phrase does not mean is to get self-involved. You do not have to get obsessed with yourself, laying your entire focus on your drama and evolution. Instead, you need to evaluate yourself, analyze your progress and build yourself on a daily basis. Look for your strengths and weaknesses, both as a person and as a leader. What keeps you motivated? What are the issues that you care about the most? And, what does your moral compass indicate and how does it guide you?
It isn’t surprising to note that people who aren’t genuinely self-aware but head on to the path of becoming a leader, most often do not succeed. Their negligence towards their own consciousness is the reason why they are difficult to train. In simpler words, a person who wants to learn the art of leadership but isn't self-aware will be like someone who wants to travel to Mumbai and thinks that he starting from Goa. But he actually is in Delhi. So, the steps he would take to reach Mumbai thinking that he is Goa will most definitely not work for him.
And thus, without doubt, comes the analogy - the more self-aware a person is, the better they are to coach, which also means that they are more inclined towards learning and are likely to improve a lot more than the others.
Where should you begin this analysis from, though? If you do not know what the starting point is, let us help you out! Here are a few ways to dramatically improve your self-awareness:
The first and the foremost step towards drawing a clear picture of yourself is to become a fair witness of yourself, i.e., analyse yourself as neutrally and accurately as possible. This will require you to take a mental step back and look back on yourself from the eyes of another person who is observing you. Detach yourself from past experiences and try to see through yourself. Reflect upon your mistakes, weaknesses and successes in the light of a third party. What would they say about you?
The next step towards self-analysis and awareness is that of inviting and accepting feedback. If you are really willing to know yourself clearly, it won’t be possible without the aid of somebody else. In clearer words, it is like trying to see your reflection without a mirror.
Build a group of people who understand you, the ones who can see through you and want the best for you. They should be the ones who aren’t scared to be honest with you. These people will help you reflect on yourself better and analyze what exactly is pulling you away from being a great leader.
The last and yet the most important aspect of learning to be a good leader is to listen to what others have to say. As much as it is crucial for self-awareness, this will form the foundation of your success, be it in the shoes of a parent, colleague, manager or a leader.
If you learn to listen clearly, without filtering their words with your pre-existing notions, you will realise that everybody around is constantly giving you clue about what they think of you, how you show yourself up and how you are leaving an impact on them. Look out for those!
The sooner you start becoming self-aware, the more confident you will become which will eventually reflect in your skills as a leader, helping you climb up the ladder of success. So the next someone asks you if or not you can teach leadership skills, you will know that even though there are leaders that are born with the skill, anybody can turn into a great leader if they know how to pull the right chords. All they have to do is look within and search for the pearl that many divers fail to find.
All the best!
There are people who most certainly argue that leaders are born, that this particular trait is in-built and cannot be learnt over time. Is that really the case though? Can you not teach the skill of leadership? Can people not become great leaders with experience or practice?
The difference: "Born-with-it" and "Self-taught"
The answer to the questions above is not as simple as it seems. There are people who are born leaders, the ones who have a knack for it from the very beginning and get better at it as they make progress in their careers. And there is this other lot that cannot become leaders, no matter how hard they try.
But somewhere in the middle of both these clans, lies this other lot, that isn’t a born leader but does become one with time. This is the area where a vast majority of the population lies, which goes to say, that most people who start off with mediocre leadership capabilities often turn out to be very good leaders. These are the ones who are “made leaders”.
So, of course! You can teach people the skill of leadership and to become leaders, the ones who have the power to lead their teammates, who help others in becoming self-aware and in progressing in their respective careers. You can put forth the crucial concepts of leadership and explain to them the nuances of becoming a great leader.
So, what should you do? If you know that you’re an okay leader but want to become great, what necessary steps should you take?
Become Self-Aware
The first and possibly the only step to changing things around you is this: Become self-aware!
But before you let this thought process further, you need to understand that one thing that this phrase does not mean is to get self-involved. You do not have to get obsessed with yourself, laying your entire focus on your drama and evolution. Instead, you need to evaluate yourself, analyze your progress and build yourself on a daily basis. Look for your strengths and weaknesses, both as a person and as a leader. What keeps you motivated? What are the issues that you care about the most? And, what does your moral compass indicate and how does it guide you?
It isn’t surprising to note that people who aren’t genuinely self-aware but head on to the path of becoming a leader, most often do not succeed. Their negligence towards their own consciousness is the reason why they are difficult to train. In simpler words, a person who wants to learn the art of leadership but isn't self-aware will be like someone who wants to travel to Mumbai and thinks that he starting from Goa. But he actually is in Delhi. So, the steps he would take to reach Mumbai thinking that he is Goa will most definitely not work for him.
And thus, without doubt, comes the analogy - the more self-aware a person is, the better they are to coach, which also means that they are more inclined towards learning and are likely to improve a lot more than the others.
Where should you begin this analysis from, though? If you do not know what the starting point is, let us help you out! Here are a few ways to dramatically improve your self-awareness:
1. Reflect on your actions
The first and the foremost step towards drawing a clear picture of yourself is to become a fair witness of yourself, i.e., analyse yourself as neutrally and accurately as possible. This will require you to take a mental step back and look back on yourself from the eyes of another person who is observing you. Detach yourself from past experiences and try to see through yourself. Reflect upon your mistakes, weaknesses and successes in the light of a third party. What would they say about you?
2. Accept feedback
The next step towards self-analysis and awareness is that of inviting and accepting feedback. If you are really willing to know yourself clearly, it won’t be possible without the aid of somebody else. In clearer words, it is like trying to see your reflection without a mirror.
Build a group of people who understand you, the ones who can see through you and want the best for you. They should be the ones who aren’t scared to be honest with you. These people will help you reflect on yourself better and analyze what exactly is pulling you away from being a great leader.
3. Learn to listen
The last and yet the most important aspect of learning to be a good leader is to listen to what others have to say. As much as it is crucial for self-awareness, this will form the foundation of your success, be it in the shoes of a parent, colleague, manager or a leader.
If you learn to listen clearly, without filtering their words with your pre-existing notions, you will realise that everybody around is constantly giving you clue about what they think of you, how you show yourself up and how you are leaving an impact on them. Look out for those!
The sooner you start becoming self-aware, the more confident you will become which will eventually reflect in your skills as a leader, helping you climb up the ladder of success. So the next someone asks you if or not you can teach leadership skills, you will know that even though there are leaders that are born with the skill, anybody can turn into a great leader if they know how to pull the right chords. All they have to do is look within and search for the pearl that many divers fail to find.
All the best!
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