"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.
Although the issue is not black and white and some experts might argue that formal training is essential to the development of a true leader, I agree with the the above statement because key personal traits that make a good leader are developed throughout a lifetime, starting in the formative period of childhood and young adulthood.
First, a leader's perspective and personality are shaped during the early years of life through different life experiences and interactions with role models. For example during a 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University, Steve Jobs discussed the various experiences that contributed to his success as the founder and current leader of Apple Inc. He stated that his perfectionism is largely attributed to his childhood experiences in art class with his mother. His mother insisted that he color in the lines because she thought that this would teach him to develop self control. If Steve colored outside of the lines, he would be reprimanded and forced to restart. Steve said that this experience during his childhood was instrumental to his current state of perfectionism. Most business analysts agree that it is Steve's perfectionism that has led to the profound success of Apple and is his most identifiable leadership quality.
Second, formal training is helpful but not essential to developing a true leader. A leader does not learn to be thoughtful, kind, or generous in a classroom. These traits that are often found in true leaders are developed by emulating people who demonstrated these traits early in the leader's lifetime. For example, Warren Buffet in an interview with the Columbia Business School Class of 2008 said that he learned most of his business intuition from his mother who was tenacious and hard-working. He attributed his own business leadership success to his mother, not to his formal training at Columbia Business School. The foundation of great leadership is developed prior to receiving formal training.
On the other hand, some may argue that formal training is essential to developing a true leader. These individuals might point to examples of various U.S. presidents who have had extensive formal training. However, I would argue that the formal training is not a requisite of a true leader. It is helpful to continue to acquire life skills that contribute to success, but it is not a necessary element. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr. did not have extensive formal training, but his impact as a leader was felt in every way during the Civil Rights Movement.
In conclusion, I agree that important leadership qualities that make an outstanding leader are formed during the early years of a person's lifetime. It is evident that these personality traits can not be taught in school, but are found in so many leaders. Therefore, these qualities must be learned outside of school and are probably learned early in a person's lifetime. Formal training is helpful in the continued development of a true leader, but not essential.
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.
Although the issue is not black and white and some experts might argue that formal training is essential to the development of a true leader, I agree with the the above statement because key personal traits that make a good leader are developed throughout a lifetime, starting in the formative period of childhood and young adulthood.
First, a leader's perspective and personality are shaped during the early years of life through different life experiences and interactions with role models. For example during a 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University, Steve Jobs discussed the various experiences that contributed to his success as the founder and current leader of Apple Inc. He stated that his perfectionism is largely attributed to his childhood experiences in art class with his mother. His mother insisted that he color in the lines because she thought that this would teach him to develop self control. If Steve colored outside of the lines, he would be reprimanded and forced to restart. Steve said that this experience during his childhood was instrumental to his current state of perfectionism. Most business analysts agree that it is Steve's perfectionism that has led to the profound success of Apple and is his most identifiable leadership quality.
Second, formal training is helpful but not essential to developing a true leader. A leader does not learn to be thoughtful, kind, or generous in a classroom. These traits that are often found in true leaders are developed by emulating people who demonstrated these traits early in the leader's lifetime. For example, Warren Buffet in an interview with the Columbia Business School Class of 2008 said that he learned most of his business intuition from his mother who was tenacious and hard-working. He attributed his own business leadership success to his mother, not to his formal training at Columbia Business School. The foundation of great leadership is developed prior to receiving formal training.
On the other hand, some may argue that formal training is essential to developing a true leader. These individuals might point to examples of various U.S. presidents who have had extensive formal training. However, I would argue that the formal training is not a requisite of a true leader. It is helpful to continue to acquire life skills that contribute to success, but it is not a necessary element. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr. did not have extensive formal training, but his impact as a leader was felt in every way during the Civil Rights Movement.
In conclusion, I agree that important leadership qualities that make an outstanding leader are formed during the early years of a person's lifetime. It is evident that these personality traits can not be taught in school, but are found in so many leaders. Therefore, these qualities must be learned outside of school and are probably learned early in a person's lifetime. Formal training is helpful in the continued development of a true leader, but not essential.
