Who represents the good leader qualities indeed?

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people believe that the good leaders are born, whereas others hold the opinion that the leadership qualities could be obtained during the life. Who represents the good leader qualities indeed?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.


Model Answer:
Is a leader born or made? This is an age-old debate as the question “which came first: the egg or the chicken? Some people believe that a leader is born; he innately possesses the social intelligence and charisma that inspires others to make greater efforts. Yet others put forward the view that a leader is made; he builds his competencies with practice, experience and mentoring. To my way of thinking, a leader comes by his talents partly through genetics but mostly through learning behaviour.  Leaders have certain traits but these are needed conducive environment to bloom.

The proponents of “leaders are born” contend that leaders are endowed with certain traits and qualities that make them better fit to leadership. That is to say that there are certain inborn virtues, such as extroversion, dare to face challenges, conscientiousness (i.e. target-oriented, reliable), emotional stability and acumen all contribute to the foundation of leadership. A leader is naturally better in these areas while others struggle to get to the same point.

The advocates of “leaders are made”, on the other hand, argue that individuals can become leaders in a structured environment through the process of learning, mentoring, and observation. This means that skills associated with leadership can be attained by training, practice and experience over time. The doctrine is embraced by the military, is evident through its leadership training programme. In my opinion,   leadership is an art. It is a set of inherent dispositions that is perfected over time with education, practice and experience.

Taking all the above into account, it seems fully justified to assume that leaders are born with certain traits as they grow in a conducive environment enhances what they already have. While people are born with certain virtues, only through learning, observing and practicing the virtues daily beyond the hostile circumstance they can emerge as a leader.