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ESSAY QUESTION:
"Since key personal traits that make a good leader are formed during one's childhood and youth, formal training can only refine rather than cultivate true leaders."
Explain what you think this quotation means and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with it. Develop your position with reasons and/or specific examples drawn from history, current events, or your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The quotations states that since personal traits that make good leaders are formed during one's childhood, formal training can only refine rather than cultivate true leaders. The quotation is a controversial one, but a closer examination reveals that the statement is true.
Firstly, there are many skill that a true leader needs which are nearly impossible to develop in adulthood. For example, being a team player is crucial for leaders. It is a skill that is learnt at an early age by being part of various teams in community, school, college, sports leagues, etc. If one never had that kind of interaction with people growing up, developing a trait like team playing is almost impossible at an older age.
Secondly, leaders depend on instincts that leaders develop since an early age by being placed in certain situations. For example, if a child was in charge of certain tasks growing up, he would have learnt how to cope with situations when he was not able to fulfill his duties on time. Such instincts are refined over age and are necessary for true leaders who deal with various situations that there are no clear instructions for. No formal training can teach someone such knowledge embedded in experience.
Some may argue that there are organizations out there that specialize in teaching and developing leadership skills in people. Furthermore, there are millions of self-help books available to achieve the same goal. Moreover, these tools work for people who have some foundation of the skills required, and are refining those skills. The success of cultivating a skill like team building for an adult who has no understanding or appreciation for it is almost impossible.
In conclusion, while arguments can be made for both sides, I agree with the statement that formal training can only refine rather cultivate true leaders, since the key personal traits that make good leaders are formed during one's childhood.
ESSAY QUESTION:
"Since key personal traits that make a good leader are formed during one's childhood and youth, formal training can only refine rather than cultivate true leaders."
Explain what you think this quotation means and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with it. Develop your position with reasons and/or specific examples drawn from history, current events, or your own experience, observations, or reading.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The quotations states that since personal traits that make good leaders are formed during one's childhood, formal training can only refine rather than cultivate true leaders. The quotation is a controversial one, but a closer examination reveals that the statement is true.
Firstly, there are many skill that a true leader needs which are nearly impossible to develop in adulthood. For example, being a team player is crucial for leaders. It is a skill that is learnt at an early age by being part of various teams in community, school, college, sports leagues, etc. If one never had that kind of interaction with people growing up, developing a trait like team playing is almost impossible at an older age.
Secondly, leaders depend on instincts that leaders develop since an early age by being placed in certain situations. For example, if a child was in charge of certain tasks growing up, he would have learnt how to cope with situations when he was not able to fulfill his duties on time. Such instincts are refined over age and are necessary for true leaders who deal with various situations that there are no clear instructions for. No formal training can teach someone such knowledge embedded in experience.
Some may argue that there are organizations out there that specialize in teaching and developing leadership skills in people. Furthermore, there are millions of self-help books available to achieve the same goal. Moreover, these tools work for people who have some foundation of the skills required, and are refining those skills. The success of cultivating a skill like team building for an adult who has no understanding or appreciation for it is almost impossible.
In conclusion, while arguments can be made for both sides, I agree with the statement that formal training can only refine rather cultivate true leaders, since the key personal traits that make good leaders are formed during one's childhood.
