| Know anyone who is a "born leader?" It's a common | | | | the boss should provide leadership training and give |
| label to attach to someone who is especially effective | | | | them an opportunity to prove themselves. In this case |
| as a leader. But is it accurate? What is a "born leader" | | | | though, there are a couple of cautions to consider. This |
| and what should other leaders do when they think one | | | | type of person has probably already experienced the |
| of their subordinates is one? | | | | ability to get people to do things so it's important to |
| There are certainly people who were born with the | | | | keep a close eye on them to ensure they're not |
| ability to make other people want to do things and | | | | heading off on their own. It is important to make sure |
| that's part of the leadership equation. These people | | | | all leaders understand the organization's values and |
| usually possess some specific qualities that attract | | | | ensure they have a complimentary value set. In this |
| people to them, such as charisma, a quick mind, and | | | | case though it is even more important for the same |
| often a sense of humor. With those tools, they can | | | | reason: people will more readily follow him or her even |
| often attract "followers" who will do their bidding. Born | | | | if they're leading in the wrong direction. |
| leaders can become a great asset; but if untrained, | | | | Before you begin providing your new protege with |
| they can also do a lot of damage. The problem is, | | | | opportunities to lead, make sure they have a firm |
| these people are not always going the direction their | | | | grasp of the organization's mission and goals and |
| bosses would want. Also, their ability to take people | | | | specifically what you want them to do. Most new |
| along with them sometimes makes it seem like they | | | | leaders are a little unsure of themselves at first but this |
| don't need a lot of leadership training. As a result, they | | | | person has a lot more self-confidence, which could |
| are more likely to find themselves in a bad situation, | | | | result in charging ahead when he or she might better |
| especially with people problems, that they don't have | | | | have asked for clarification or guidance. |
| the tools to deal with. That doesn't mean someone | | | | An odd thing to watch for is an inability for the "born |
| who is thought of as a "born leader" should be | | | | leader" to bring up new leaders once they've reached |
| discounted. Far from it. With good leadership training | | | | a leadership position themselves. This is probably |
| they probably will excel. | | | | attributable to the fact that some people with the |
| As should be the case with any potential leader, a | | | | qualities that make them "born leaders" can also be a |
| boss who senses that a subordinate has these innate | | | | little insecure and they can see new potential leaders |
| characteristics should take action to develop them. | | | | as a threat to their position. This should be uncommon |
| And also as with any potential leadership candidate, | | | | though, especially if they have been well trained. |