From good to great: How to turn good managers into great leaders

Abstract

Unlike conventional beliefs, leadership today is no longer a "born with it" phenomenon. Instead management and leadership gurus believe there are natural leaders and there are leaders trained to take up their roles to lead organizations, institutions and enterprises without genetic intervention. Bruce J. Avolio (2005) is of the view that most leaders are not born but made. The capacity to perform leadership tasks are learned in the course of experience. Many of the leadership qualities such as motivation, inspiration, vision, and reflection etc. can be transferred from an experienced leader to one who is struggling to be one. Leaders manage as well as lead therefore they need both the qualities of leadership as well as management to manage day-to-day activities. For this reason the researcher is of the view that good managers are the prime candidates for training and transforming into leaders.