--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most dangerous leadership myth is…" description: "\"The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...\" — Warren G. Bennis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png" --- # The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are… ![“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...” quote by Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png) > “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...” [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-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 not innate; it develops through learning, experience, and deliberate practice. **In simple terms:** Leaders are made, not born. Key Takeaway Invest in learning and growth. Themes leadership development myth growth Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - management training - coaching - career advancement - team building Key Concepts behaviorism self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What skills can you develop today? - How do you challenge existing leadership myths? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on learning may ignore innate traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) [Best leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-leader/) [Born leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-leaders/) [Charismatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charismatic/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Funny leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-leadership/) [Future leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-leaders/) [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Inspiring leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-leader/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leaders motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-motivational/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership and change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-and-change/) [Leadership by famous leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-by-famous-leaders/) [Leadership development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-development/) [Leadership vs management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-vs-management/) [Motivational leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-leadership/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Sales leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sales-leadership/) [True leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leader/) [True leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-leadership/) [World leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-leader/) ## Related quotes > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born-that-2/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-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/) > [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/) > [Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/leadership-is-lifting-a-person-s-vision-to-high-sights-the-raising-of/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/in-periods-where-there-is-no-leadership-society-stands-still/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-building-of-a-personality-beyond-its-normal-limitations/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Leaders aren't born they are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/leaders-aren-t-born-they-are-made/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witter-bynner/a-leader-is-best-when-people-barely-know-that-he-exists/) [Witter Bynner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witter-bynner/) > [A new leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless and visionless ... someone's got to make a wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-new-leader-has-to-be-able-to-change-an-organization-that-is/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [In times of change, learners inherit the earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/in-times-of-change-learners-inherit-the-earth/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/learners-inherit-the-earth-while-the-learned-find-themselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [If you don't change direction, you end up where you are headed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gibbons/if-you-don-t-change-direction-you-end-up-where-you-are-headed/) John Gibbons > [We're trained to see the world in terms of charismatic organizations and charismatic people. That's who we look to for leadership and change, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-re-trained-to-see-the-world-in-terms-of-charismatic-organizations/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [We have a Marlboro Man Theory of leadership and change, especially in America, but in fact anything great that's accomplished is accomplished by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-morgan/we-have-a-marlboro-man-theory-of-leadership-and-change-especially-in/) [Nick Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-morgan/) > [There is an inexorable correlation between leadership and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/there-is-an-inexorable-correlation-between-leadership-and-change/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) ## More by Warren G. Bennis > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Great groups deliver great results. And for everyone involved in a great group, great work is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/great-groups-deliver-great-results-and-for-everyone-involved-in-a/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Leadership is like beauty - it's hard to define but you know it when you see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/leadership-is-like-beauty-it-s-hard-to-define-but-you-know-it-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Coaching will become the model for leaders in the future... I am certain that leadership can be learned and that terrific coaches... facilitate learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/coaching-will-become-the-model-for-leaders-in-the-future-i-am-certain/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Servant leadership teaches us that you have to lay your cards on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/servant-leadership-teaches-us-that-you-have-to-lay-your-cards-on-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [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/) > [Recognize and respect mutual self-interests, then build creative collaborations to serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/recognize-and-respect-mutual-self-interests-then-build-creative/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If great teams don't have an "enemy," they create one for themselves because, as former Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta pointed out, "you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-great-teams-don-t-have-an-enemy-they-create-one-for-themselves/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [All great leaders constantly seek new information and new ways of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/all-great-leaders-constantly-seek-new-information-and-new-ways-of/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Trust is difficult to define, but we know when it's present and when it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/trust-is-difficult-to-define-but-we-know-when-it-s-present-and-when/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Around the world, the generals are being ousted, and the poets are taking charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/around-the-world-the-generals-are-being-ousted-and-the-poets-are/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [A passion for continual learning, a refined, discerning ear for the moral and ethical consequences of their actions, and an understanding of the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/a-passion-for-continual-learning-a-refined-discerning-ear-for-the/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [The failure to find the right niche for people - or to let them find their own perfect niches - is a major reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-failure-to-find-the-right-niche-for-people-or-to-let-them-find/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Effective leaders make a full commitment to be a learner, to keep increasing and nourishing their knowledge and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/effective-leaders-make-a-full-commitment-to-be-a-learner-to-keep/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [Encourage reflective backtalk: Leaders know the importance of having someone in their lives who will unfailingly and fearlessly tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/encourage-reflective-backtalk-leaders-know-the-importance-of-having/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) [Explore all 132 Warren G. Bennis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More Being a leader quotes > [A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/a-good-general-not-only-sees-the-way-to-victory-he-also-knows-when/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [I think there is a big and significant difference between being a leader and being a manager-leaders lead from the heart. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jung/i-think-there-is-a-big-and-significant-difference-between-being-a/) [Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jung/) > [I never thought in terms of being a leader. I thought very simply in terms of helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/i-never-thought-in-terms-of-being-a-leader-i-thought-very-simply-in/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Being consistent meant not departing from convictions already formulated; being a leader meant making other persons accept these convictions. It was a narrow track,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/being-consistent-meant-not-departing-from-convictions-already/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [My own definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-law-montgomery/my-own-definition-of-leadership-is-this-the-capacity-and-the-will-to/) [Bernard Law Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-law-montgomery/) > [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/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Leadership is possible in all different ways, and in all different areas of life. Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/leadership-is-possible-in-all-different-ways-and-in-all-different/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [A leader leads by example not by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/a-leader-leads-by-example-not-by-force/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/management-is-efficiency-in-climbing-the-ladder-of-success/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [It is the solemn obligation of a leader always to be a leader. Even when - perhaps especially when - you don't feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/it-is-the-solemn-obligation-of-a-leader-always-to-be-a-leader-even/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) > [Being a leader is making the people you love hate you a little more each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/being-a-leader-is-making-the-people-you-love-hate-you-a-little-more/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be prooud, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/be-strong-but-not-rude-be-kind-but-not-weak-be-bold-but-not-bully-be/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/somebody-has-to-take-responsibility-for-being-a-leader/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them to set a great example for me, and hopefully I will do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/whether-it-is-with-friends-or-family-i-expect-them-to-set-a-great/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) [Browse all 82 Being a leader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-leader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren G. Bennis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being a leader" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/warren-g-bennis-3361_being-a-leader_the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-th_686956.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born...” — Warren G. Bennis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Warren G. Bennis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most dangerous leadership myth is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/the-most-dangerous-leadership-myth-is-that-leaders-are-born/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```