Top-level managers have a greater need for interpersonal and decision-making skills than technical skills. Middle-level managers have a balanced need for all three skill sets. First-level managers have a greater need for technical and interpersonal skills than decision-making skills. So, are leaders born or made?

You may think this is a trick question, because many leading experts argue that the answer is both. Research concurs, “effective leaders are not simply born or made, they are born with some leadership ability and develop it” (Lussier & Achua, 2012). If leaders were born and skills could not be developed, leading business schools would not be teaching leadership, you would not be taking this course, and major corporations would not spend millions of dollars on leadership training each year. Of course, all of this is highly subjective and argued among scholars and leadership specialists all over the world.

Using the module readings, Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:

• Do you believe that you are a born leader? Do you believe that you can develop your leadership skills to improve job performance? Give some examples to illustrate your point.
• Describe a specific instance of leadership you or some other leader displayed when performing a figurehead, leader, or managerial role. For each of the three roles, be sure to identify the leader, the role by its name, and the specific instance. Did the behavior have positive or negative consequences? Why? How did this affect your future performance?

Write your initial response in a minimum of 200–300 words. Apply APA standards to the citation of sources.

Beginning Saturday, March 19, 2016, post your responses to the appropriateDiscussion Area. Through Wednesday, March 23, 2016, comment on at least two of your peers’ responses.

Do the following when responding to your peers:

• Read all posts from your peers.
• Respond to feedback on your post and provide feedback to other students on their ideas.
• Provide substantive comments by contributing new, relevant information or quotes from course readings, academic and trade journals, company websites, or other sources; building on the remarks or questions of others; or sharing practical examples of key concepts from your professional or personal experiences.
• Make sure your writing is clear, concise, and organized; demonstrates ethical scholarship through accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displays accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Grading Criteria and Rubric

All discussion assignments in this course will be graded using a rubric. Download the discussion rubric and read it carefully to understand the expectations.

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria	Max Points
Initial Discussion Response	16
Discussion Participation	16
Writing Craftsmanship and Ethical Scholarship	8
Total:	40