By Mike Myatt, Chief StrategyOfficer, N2growthSo the question that manyseem to want to debate to the death is: Are leaders born ormade? While there is a very simple answer to thisquestion, most people are so entrenched in their beliefs thatno amount of reason or logic will alter their opinions. Butthat's never stopped me before...so for my part, I wouldactually like to put this useless debate to bed once and for all.So, what's the answer? Both -some people are born with innate qualities that predisposethem to being leaders, and other people while not naturally giftedwith leadership ability can acquire it. Moreover, all leaders,born or made, can improve their ability with desire, experience andeffort. If we're to be honest with ourselves, as opposed todefending a particular position to suit our needs, we've all knownborn leaders...They are those affable individuals that possescharisma and presence combined with the ability to make gooddecisions that people have flocked to since an early age. They wereyour class presidents, homecoming and prom courtmembers, team captains, club leaders, and the people who heldvirtually all the available leadership positions you canimagine early in life. They were those unflappable individualsthat seemed to just have that "it" factor. They were the bornleaders we all grew up with.Before we move on, and as a caution tothose who are natural leaders, natural ability will only take youso far. Leaders who rest on their laurels without making the effortto develop their skills will eventually be overtaken bythose who view leadership as a professional skill to be developedand refined. As they old saying goes, "it's not what you'vebeen given, but what you do with it that matters." Everyperson has to decide for themselves whether they'll be anunderachiever or a person who excels, and since you'll be judgedfor your choice, my suggestion would be to choosewisely. Moving on, we've all also known individualswho while perhaps not naturally gifted leaders, eitherfell into, or accepted leadership responsibility, andworked diligently to develop themselves into highlyeffective leaders. Leadership acumen can most certainly be taught,and it can also be ingrained in those willing to put forth theeffort. You see, the only things that keep someone from becoming asound leader are a lack of character, effort and desire. Ifthose three qualities are present, everything else can bedeveloped. I've personally witnessed the shy and introverteddevelop presence, the greedy become giving, the arrogant develop anauthentic sense of humility, the foolish become discerning andwise, people who struggled with decision making learn soliddecisioning skills, individuals who lacked domain expertise acquireit, people who were ego centric transition into servantleaders and the list could go on...Bottom line: Itis not how a leader comes by their skill that is relevant.It only matters that they possess the requisite skills for thejob, and that they are willing to apply those skills forthe benefit of those they lead. Remember that there is no perfectleader, no single right way to lead, and no one-size-fits-allformula for leadership. Let's stop wasting time debatingwhether leaders are born or made, and focus on how to helpthem be better leaders regardless of how they arrived.