QuoteProject
The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
Warren Bennis
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Leaders are not born with innate qualities; they are developed through experience and learning.

Warren Bennis challenges the common belief that leadership is an inherent trait determined by genetics. Instead, he emphasizes that leadership abilities can be cultivated through effort, experience, and intentional development, rejecting the notion that only certain individuals have the qualities necessary to lead effectively.

Themes

LeadershipDevelopmentCharismaMythExperience

In practice

Example use cases

In a team-building workshop, this quote can be used to motivate attendees to develop their leadership skills.

More from Warren Bennis

Learning options will indeed mushroom for business students and leaders, but it will take prudence and shrewdness to find and utilize the best option.
Warren BennisRead
Specialized management courses are useful but should come well after the complexity of management and business are understood.
Warren BennisRead
You need people who can walk their companies into the future rather than back them into the future.
Warren BennisRead
Leaders should always expect the very best of those around them. They know that people can change and grow.
Warren BennisRead

Similar quotes

Colleagues should take care of each other, have fun, celebrate success, learn by failure, look for reasons to praise not to criticize, communicate freely and respect each other.
Richard BransonRead
Leadership is seeing the possibilities in a situation while others are seeing the limitations.
John C. MaxwellRead
One of the fondest expressions around is that we can't be the world's policeman. But guess who gets called when suddenly someone needs a cop.
Colin PowellRead
I know that the right kind of leader for the Labour Party is a desiccated calculating machine who must not in any way permit himself to be swayed by indignation. If he sees suffering, privation or injustice he must not allow it to move him, for that would be evidence of the lack of proper education or of absence of self-control. He must speak in calm and objective accents and talk about a dying child in the same way as he would about the pieces inside an internal combustion engine.
Aneurin BevanRead
Self-centered leaders manipulate when they move people for personal benefit. Mature leaders motivate by moving people for mutual benefit.
John C. MaxwellRead
So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.
Peter DruckerRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Warren Bennis | QuoteProject