--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most dangerous leadership myth is…" description: "\"“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is tr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-bennis-35384_leaders_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_1587226.jpg" --- # The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are… ![“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” quote by Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-bennis-35384_leaders_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_1587226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-bennis-35384_leaders_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_1587226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/warren-bennis-35384_leaders_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_1587226.jpg) > ““The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”” [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership is a skill developed through experience, not an innate trait passed genetically. **In simple terms:** Leaders are created, not born. Key Takeaway Focus on learning and practice. Themes leadership development skill growth Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career advancement - team management - entrepreneurship Key Concepts psychology education talent development Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations nurture leadership potential? - What practices develop leadership skills? A Different Perspective Genetics alone cannot guarantee effective leadership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-genetic-364296/) [Dangerous Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-leadership-3188758/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-born-312128/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-myth-3188757/) [Myth Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-leaders-3188759/) ## Related quotes > [The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“Forget what you’ve heard: leaders are made, not born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-smith/forget-what-you-ve-heard-leaders-are-made-not-born/) [Thomas Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-smith/) > [Most experts and great leaders agree that leaders are made, not born, and that they are made through their own drive for learning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/most-experts-and-great-leaders-agree-that-leaders-are-made-not-born/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [I would assert that highly effective leaders are made more than they're born. Every leader I know who's been highly effective has worked hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/i-would-assert-that-highly-effective-leaders-are-made-more-than-they/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [I was born with the genetic condition called 'achondroplasia,' which I inherited from my dad: my mam is average height, and my dad is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-burke/i-was-born-with-the-genetic-condition-called-achondroplasia-which-i/) [Sinead Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-burke/) > [“A sliver of a man stood on a corner beside a charcoal garage door, a plume of smoke twisting from his hand. He looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orest-stelmach/a-sliver-of-a-man-stood-on-a-corner-beside-a-charcoal-garage-door-a/) [Orest Stelmach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orest-stelmach/) > [“We are all born with a genetic inheritance—but your genes are activated by the environment. They can be switched on, or off, by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/we-are-all-born-with-a-genetic-inheritance-but-your-genes-are/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [My daughter was born with a genetic condition called cystic fibrosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/my-daughter-was-born-with-a-genetic-condition-called-cystic-fibrosis/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [“Leaders would be born in this movement, unlikely heroes whose impact on food production would change a nation, and possibly the world. ~Seeds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-holland/leaders-would-be-born-in-this-movement-unlikely-heroes-whose-impact/) [Carolyn Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-holland/) > [“Leaders are not born, but made as a result of hard work”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/leaders-are-not-born-but-made-as-a-result-of-hard-work/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [True leaders are born when you find something to die for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/true-leaders-are-born-when-you-find-something-to-die-for/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/that-s-nonsense-in-fact-the-opposite-is-true-leaders-are-made-rather/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [You gotta be hungry for it. You’ve got to put everything you got on it. EVERYTHING! Every second. You have to be the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lewis/you-gotta-be-hungry-for-it-you-ve-got-to-put-everything-you-got-on-it/) [Ray Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lewis/) ## More by Warren Bennis > [Specialized management courses are useful but should come well after the complexity of management and business are understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/specialized-management-courses-are-useful-but-should-come-well-after/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [“...once you recognize, or admit, that your primary goal is to fully express yourself, you will find the means to achieve the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/once-you-recognize-or-admit-that-your-primary-goal-is-to-fully/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [How can we educators claim credit for understanding, let alone teaching, the 'global mind' without a single course on the impact of religion on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/how-can-we-educators-claim-credit-for-understanding-let-alone/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [Learning in a face-to-face human community, as humans have evolved to do over hundreds of thousands of years, may always be the ideal -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/learning-in-a-face-to-face-human-community-as-humans-have-evolved-to/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [As my blog editor knows all too well, I wasn't all that keen to enter the blogosphere world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/as-my-blog-editor-knows-all-too-well-i-wasn-t-all-that-keen-to-enter/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [The original and brilliant idea of an MBA was the opportunity for students to study the theory and application of business and management principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/the-original-and-brilliant-idea-of-an-mba-was-the-opportunity-for/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [I've become more and more aware of the promise and struggle to teach the global mind nowadays because I use every chance I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/i-ve-become-more-and-more-aware-of-the-promise-and-struggle-to-teach/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [The primary goal of management education was, as originally conceived, to impart knowledge that could be applied to a variety of real-world business situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/the-primary-goal-of-management-education-was-as-originally-conceived/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [Learning options will indeed mushroom for business students and leaders, but it will take prudence and shrewdness to find and utilize the best option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/learning-options-will-indeed-mushroom-for-business-students-and/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [Most regular, two-year MBA programs provide both experience and the capacity to link together the essential elements of management such as finance, marketing, organizational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/most-regular-two-year-mba-programs-provide-both-experience-and-the/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [One of the best teaching experiences Ed Schein and I had when we were teaching at MIT in the 1960s was inventing a course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/one-of-the-best-teaching-experiences-ed-schein-and-i-had-when-we-were/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [A great director or leader knows his people, creates a great team, and then makes a great movie that can influence millions more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/a-great-director-or-leader-knows-his-people-creates-a-great-team-and/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) [Explore all 13 Warren Bennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) ## More Leader quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. 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That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I always wanted someone looking up to me and trying to understand where I'm coming from as a leader. I'm ready for that. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-always-wanted-someone-looking-up-to-me-and-trying-to-understand/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [Leadership is made for service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/leadership-is-made-for-service/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [“All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-to-often-on-the-long-road-up-young-leaders-become-servants-of/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Browse all 10,680 Leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. 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