Are Leaders Born or Made?

Key Concepts

• Born vs. Made Leaders: Examining the root causes of leadership qualities.
• Powers of Observation: Noticing and interpreting details others miss.
• Six Qualities of a Leader: Competence, Composure, Character, Sociability (Likability), Extroversion, and Goodwill.
• Verbal Communication Skills: Word choice, sentence structure, and frameworks.
• Asking Good Questions: Using open-ended questions (Why, How) to guide conversations.

Root Cause Analysis of Leadership Qualities

The discussion begins by addressing the "born leader" versus "made leader" debate. Allen Weiner suggests using a root cause analysis approach to understand the origin of leadership qualities. Instead of focusing on whether someone is inherently a leader, individuals should examine if their qualities stem from observation (e.g., learning from parents) or innate traits. This involves introspection to identify the source of these qualities, whether learned or potentially passed down through genetics.

Developing Powers of Observation

Weiner emphasizes the importance of developing powers of observation. He defines a genius as someone who sees or hears what everyone else does but interprets it differently. He provides a framework for communicating observations to a boss:

1. Observation: "I was in a meeting this morning, I heard such and such a person say X."
2. Interpretation: "My interpretation of what they said is X."
3. Suggestion: "My suggestion to you is X."

This framework aims to impress superiors by demonstrating insightful observation and proactive problem-solving.

Six Qualities of a Leader

Weiner outlines six qualities that people notice in leaders:

1. Competence: Demonstrating fluency and articulation, especially with relevant statistics. It's emphasized that competence can be exuded regardless of IQ level.
2. Composure: (Not explicitly discussed in detail in this excerpt)
3. Character: (Not explicitly discussed in detail in this excerpt)
4. Sociability (Likability): Being likable is crucial. This is often the first impression people have. Behaviors that enhance likability include active listening (head nodding, facial expressions) and asking questions that show genuine curiosity.
5. Extroversion: (Not explicitly discussed in detail in this excerpt)
6. Goodwill: (Not explicitly discussed in detail in this excerpt)

Leadership is Made Through Hard Work

The discussion references studies indicating that 70% of leadership skills are learned through life experience, while only 30% are attributed to genetic traits. This reinforces the idea that leadership can be developed through effort and learning. A quote from Vince Lombardi is used: "Leaders aren't born, they are made, and they are made just like everything else through hard work."

Verbal Communication Skills

Weiner highlights the importance of verbal communication skills, breaking them down into three components:

1. Word Choice: Using simpler, one-syllable words for better understanding.
2. Sentence Structure: Employing a clear subject-verb-object structure (attributed to Winston Churchill).
3. Frameworks: Utilizing frameworks like the "30-second elevator ride" (Problem-Cause-Consequence-Solution) to structure communication.

Mastering these elements contributes to being perceived as a "good talker."

Asking Good Questions

Asking good questions is presented as a leadership quality. Open-ended questions (starting with "why" or "how") are favored over closed-ended (yes/no) questions. Examples include:

• "Let's spend some time figuring out why they are ordering less than they used to."
• "Let's ask ourselves how we might do a better job of getting our message out there."

These questions encourage discussion and guide the conversation in a productive direction. Weiner expresses interest in learning from detectives at the Los Angeles Police Academy about asking effective questions at crime scenes.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The conversation emphasizes that leadership is more about learned behaviors and skills than innate traits. By focusing on developing powers of observation, cultivating key qualities like competence and likability, mastering verbal communication, and asking insightful questions, individuals can actively grow into leadership roles. The key takeaway is that leadership is attainable through conscious effort and a willingness to learn.