Leadership Myths & Truths

Enduring Questions About Leaders and Leadership

What are the critical questions asked about leadership?

The study of leaders and leadership go back as far as human history. But in the last 100 years, social scientists have conducted serious research on leadership — attempting to answer age-old questions about it. There are many myths about leadership (e.g., men, by nature, make better leaders; some people are born leaders), and research tries to find definitive answers.

Part of the top-down learning about leadership involves understanding some of these issues and questions. We all come to the study of leadership with our own pre-existing beliefs, biases, ideas, and theories. What are some of the beliefs you hold about leaders and leadership? How will those beliefs shape your leader development?

For Development: List a few of your beliefs and theories about leaders and leadership. As we move forward addressing some of the classic questions see if your beliefs are challenged. Part of the learning and development process involves having our belief systems challenged, acquiring new information and knowledge, and using it in our personal leader development.