Can We Learn to Lead?
By Bruce Wade
This week I am spending with a small group of young men and women who have travelled different journeis in their lives, but have resulted in being nominated as participants on the Honeybadger Leadership Camp.
This camp, over 4 days, takes each participant through a cycle of learning using the mantra “I am, I can, I will, I will show others” developing their leadership qualities and skills.
But am I wasting my time? Can leadership be taught or do we just wait for those who can lead naturally to rise to the top? There are some who believe that both Leadership and Entrepreneurship are natural abilities and should be nurtured and cannot be taught.
I tend to agree and disagree with this statement: yes there are those with natural abilities, but both can most certainly be taught. I have worked with many individuals over the yesr who have shown great results, not from natural abilities, but through determination.
I need people to want to change, to succeed, to make something out of their lives. Then we can do stuff together. But when there is no desire, no amont of teaching will change anyone.
So, to get back to the original question, Can Leadership be taught: absolutley Yes. But there has to be a desire to lead.
So, can desire be taught, now that is the question?
Bruce, I agree with you about the leadership entrepreneur question—yes, they can be taught. If there is an accident and someone says, I’m a doctor, they will take the lead because of their knowledge. Where there’s a need, there’s a way, sort of thing.
But teach me a desire?
I doubt it. For example, my desire to lead efforts to help those on the margins of our society comes from within me. That is why I will be in Mdantsane in July, leading workshops for the unemployed. That’s my desire.