Are Leaders Born Or Made?

Have you ever fallen into the trap of wishing that you were like someone else? Imagining what it would be like to have the business acumen of Warren Buffet or the marketing savvy of Richard Branson? Do you wish that you were able to present your product in the compelling manner of Steve Jobs? Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you had the leadership ability of Jack Welch or Carly Fiorina?

These questions beg of us the answer to a deeper question - Are we born into greatness? Do some people just 'have what it takes' and others not?

According to experts in performance management the only people who are born with an advantage are some sportsmen and women whose body size may give them an advantage in their chosen sport.

Every other achiever. in business or elsewhere, has had to work extremely hard to achieve success. However there are certain characteristics that these outstanding achievers share. Here are some of them :

1) They put in more practice than others and do so strategically while seeking feedback from those around them. They know that how you practice is as important as the practicing itself.

2) They focus on building on their strengths and don't worry too much about things that don't matter.

3) Instead of just trying to get the job done, they seek out ways to improve the results of each task each time it is completed. They review constantly and are not satisfied with the status quo.

4) They seek positive criticism and learn from it.

5) They never stop stretching beyond what comes easily.

Small business owners compete in a crowded market. In order to stand out from the crowd they need to show the market that what they offer is far better than their competitors - be that product quality, customer service, after-sales support or whatever. To gain this advantage takes clear strategic planning and a willingness to implement the habits and strategies outlined above.