Most of us have heard the expression “natural born leader” and can immediately call to mind people in our lives who exemplify that. They seem to have some innate qualities – confidence, great decision-making skills, problem solving abilities, to name a few – that make them instinctively effective at leading and inspiring other people.
But what if you don’t consider yourself a natural leader, and you want or need to be one to succeed in your organization or to run your veterinary practice effectively?
The good news – most essential leadership skills can be learned and developed over time through formal learning, practical experience and an abundance of hard work.
An article in ScienceDaily estimates that around 70% of leadership ability can be developed while 30% is influenced by innate qualities:
Learned components (70%) – These include skills acquired through experience, mentorship, formal leadership development programs and self-directed learning.
Innate components (30%) – These are qualities like charisma, confidence, social awareness and emotional resilience. However, such natural tendencies alone don’t guarantee effective leadership.
Not An Either/Or Scenario
It’s encouraging to me – and I hope it is to you – that most essential leadership skills can be learned, developed and applied. They aren’t just a matter of nature versus nurture; they’re most usually a combination of both.
Looking ahead, there are two upcoming opportunities to develop and hone your leadership skills:
1. American Association of Bovine Practitioners Annual Conference, Sept. 11-15, 2025, Omaha, Neb.
2. American Veterinary Medical Association annual Veterinary Leadership Conference, Jan. 8-10, 2026, Chicago, Ill.
One final thought on leadership. If you’re far along in your career and the topic of leadership makes you shrug your shoulders in a been-there, done-that sort of way, consider becoming a mentor to a younger or new practitioner. AABP has a host of mentor opportunities, and your skills, encouragement and listening ears will be just what another veterinarian out there needs now. Learn more at www.aabp.org.
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