Are Leaders Born or Developed?

I didn't start out as a take-charge leader who expected everyone to follow me. I was too busy trying to go unnoticed.

When I was young, my mom told me that some people are born leaders and some people are born followers. And that I was a follower.

I carried these words with me for years. Then I joined the Navy. And my life changed forever.

I have always been good at tests. So passing advancement exams was not difficult and I made rank fairly quickly. But the higher up you get, the more responsibility you are expected to assume. And so the day came when I was offered the chance to become a Communications Watch Officer, responsible for running an entire watch section,

Why You Might Be a Leader

I have to admit I struggled with the decision, worried that I didn’t know how to lead others. But this isn't like a job interview. You really don't get to say no thanks. And after a few days, it became apparent that my mom was right. No one on my watch section thought I could do the job. I went along with whatever the other CWO's said, whether I thought it was the right thing to do or not. It wasn't long before I was relieved of that position.

Maybe you can relate to my experience. You’ve always assumed that leaders are just born that way. You might say things like, “Oh, nobody would listen to my thoughts. I’m not the take-charge type. I’m too shy and quiet to be a leader.”

Why Leadership Styles Matter

Sometimes, it’s not the fact that you’re not a leader that holds you back. It’s the belief that leaders must behave in certain ways. For example, when you think of leader, you may think of someone that comes in and barks orders at others, like a drill sergeant. This was my leadership style at the time. I mean, I was in the military after all. Wasn't that what was expected? Besides I was one of the few women on the watch at the time. Didn't I have to be as tough as the men in order to gain their respect?

While that’s one way to lead, it’s not the only way. There can be many styles of leadership. Some leaders are democratic, meaning they don’t just make decisions alone. They invite others into the process with them, carefully weighing feedback from their followers.

Other leadership types include transformational leaders. These leaders inspire and motivate people set and achieve BIG goals. They’re often visionaries who can predict trends and patterns before they become mainstream. They share their vision with others but they prefer to avoid the messy day-to-day details.

Why You Should Lead

Fortunately, my story ended well. I was soon transferred to another command where I met an amazing female lieutenant. She saw something in me and gave me another chance, this time as an Assistant Special Security Officer. But she didn't just throw me out there and let me sink. She guided and mentored me. She showed me I didn't have to be "one of the guys" to earn their respect. Under her guidance, I realized I could be a leader—and a good one—without having to use the same bossy techniques others did. Instead of micromanaging everything, I preferred a more laissez-faire approach. I wanted to be hands-off as much as possible, trusting my team to do their jobs correctly after they’d gone through training. I wanted to guide and mentor them as my lieutenant had done for me, not stand over them with a whip and a chair, barking commands.

Just as different personality types make the world interesting, different leadership styles do, too. There’s no wrong or right way to lead.

In fact, some of the best leaders practice situational leadership—that is, they select a leadership style based on what’s needed at the time. If others are slacking off and not getting the work done, these leaders will become autocratic leaders, making sure that tasks are completed correctly and on time. And if you don't believe that's possible, just ask some of the people who have worked for me!

I listened to my lieutenant and began studying leadership. The more I learned about the different styles, the more confident I became that I could lead effectively.

 

I spent an entire career in the Navy. I even had a chance to serve as a CWO once again. I never forgot what I had learned about leadership. I took those skills with me into civilian life. I have successfully led everything from conference planning committees to 1500 Girl Scout volunteers to Food Safety and Quality Assurance Departments to Network Marketing teams. And never once did I ever doubt I could manage it successfully.

 

And to LT Terri Roberts, thank you! I couldn't...no that's wrong.  I WOULDN'T have done it without you.