Leadership Is a Skill, Not a Natural Talent. I Learned That the Hard Way. Ten years ago, I was a terrible leader.

Q: I'm a great worker, but my leadership abilities are lackluster. What's the best place to start improving? — Jeff, San Francisco

Are leaders born or made? It's a classic question, and the answer is usually: both.

Some people possess natural talents that inspire teams and drive big decisions. But most leadership isn't about intuition; it's about experience. It's learning how to build, connect with, and empower a team. Those skills can be learned — and I would know, because when I first took on a leadership role, I didn't have them. To be honest, I was a terrible leader.