No one who has thought or read much about leadership is oblivious to the debate as to whether leadership is an art or a science, whether leaders are born or made. On the one hand, I suppose there would be few books and blogs about leadership if it were proven that leaders are born and that’s all there is to it. On the other hand, evidence abounds that not everyone is equally capable of leading well. Is this simply because they have not acquired certain techniques which they could, with determination, master and exercise with proficiency equal to the greatest of leaders? Although people I respect think anyone can learn to be a great leader, I find it hard to believe that view represents an adequate understanding of leadership in light of Scripture.
So, are leaders born or made? I believe the answer is YES.
Natural and Spiritual Gifts
The Bible makes it clear that human beings are endowed with both natural and spiritual gifts and that the distribution of these gifts differs in kind and degree and, perhaps, configuration as well. I Corinthians 12:4 informs us that, “There are different kinds of gifts.” Romans 12:7 similarly asserts, “We have different gifts according to the grace given to us.” In other words, you have been given some gifts I don’t have and I have been given some gifts you don’t have. Previously, moreover, in verse 3, Paul speaks of gifting as according to, “the measure of faith,” suggesting that gifting occurs not only in a variety of abilities but also in a range of capacities. Paul suggests–and I think the entire context of Romans 12 bears this out–that we inflict harm upon ourselves and havoc upon God’s people when we overestimate the degree of our giftedness. He warns, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
Growing your Proficiency
It is precisely because leadership is a gift that those who have been so gifted must dedicate themselves to growing their proficiency in exercising this gift and realizing the full capacity with which they have been endowed. It is worse than tragic, it is dangerous when those who have leadership gifts rely on gifting alone, failing to appropriate the Spirit’s grace and power and to invest the time and effort necessary to unwrap the gift’s full potential by study and reflective practice.
Responsibility of Giftedness
Giftedness is accompanied by responsibility and the greater the gift, the greater the responsibility. If there is any possibility that you may have the gift of leadership, you have an obligation to make it your lifelong ambition to master as fully as possible the entire array of dispositions and skills necessary for the godly, effective exercise of your gift. Will you be a great leader? Only God knows the range of your capabilities and the extent of the capacities He has implanted in you. He is eager to reveal and release them as you commit yourself to developing your fullest potential in the unfolding of His providence.