Leaders are not born. They are built. (Sorry, Baby Boss.)

Let’s clear something up: leaders are not born.

They don’t come out of the womb with a clipboard, a five-year plan, and a well-rehearsed speech. No baby ever exited the delivery room saying, “Let’s circle back on that Q3 projection.”

Sure, some people might have a natural gift for confidence or charisma. But real leadership? The kind that actually builds people, shapes cultures, and makes others better? That doesn’t come pre-installed. It’s not genetic.

Leaders are built...and no one builds themselves.

The Leadership Myth: “Some People Just Have It”

This idea that leadership is a magical personality trait bestowed by the heavens is comforting, sure. If some people are born to lead, the rest of us are off the hook. We can sit back, sip our coffee, and critique the ones “in charge” without ever stepping up ourselves.

But real leadership - the kind that changes people’s lives - comes from a very different place.

It comes from someone before you.

Someone who decided to take you under their wing. Someone who saw potential when all you brought to the table was chaos, caffeine, and ambition. Someone who taught you.

And often? Someone who took a chance on you when you definitely didn’t have the résumé to justify it.

A Lineage of Leadership

Behind every great leader is another leader who said, “I’ll take responsibility for this person.”

Not in a “I’m liable if they ruin the company” kind of way, but in a “I’ll invest in them, challenge them, and teach them even when they’re annoying” kind of way.

Think about it. Who are the people that made you?

The manager who didn’t fire you after that disastrous first presentation but instead asked, “Want some feedback?”

The teacher who told you to stop playing small and actually apply yourself.

The coach who benched you until you learned the value of humility.

The coworker who pulled you aside and said, “You can’t talk to people like that, even if you’re right.”

The friend who handed you your ego on a platter—with love.

You didn’t become who you are by accident. You were built by the people who cared enough to correct you, challenge you, and invest in you when it would’ve been easier to write you off.

It Takes Courage to Build Someone

Here’s the thing no one tells you about mentoring or leading others: it’s risky.

It’s not cute, clean, or always rewarding. It means putting your reputation, time, and energy on the line for someone who might not appreciate it - or worse, might fail publicly under your guidance. Ouch.

But leaders do it anyway.

Why? Because courage is part of the job description.

If you’re building someone - really building them - you’re not just teaching skills.

You’re modeling patience.

You’re giving second chances.

You’re showing what it looks like to lead with heart, not just authority.

You’re saying, “I believe in you enough to go down with this ship if I have to. But let’s sail it anyway.”

That’s not ego. That’s legacy.

“Under Your Wing” Isn’t Just a Metaphor

Taking someone under your wing doesn’t mean dumping advice on them like confetti.

It means walking with them. It means answering late-night texts that say, “I think I messed up.” It means celebrating their wins, even when no one else notices.

It’s letting them shadow your success and your stress. It’s coaching them through the hard conversations, not just clapping from the sidelines. It’s listening when they vent and still holding them accountable. It’s being a safe place and a growth zone.

You Can’t Pass the Torch If You Never Light One

If you’ve been shaped by someone else’s leadership - and spoiler alert, you have - then you already have a debt to pay forward.

Not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. At some point, someone made space for you. Now it’s your turn to make space for someone else.

This is how real leadership grows. Not by force. Not by hierarchy. But by invitation.

You say to someone, “Come with me. I’ll show you what I’ve learned. I’ll help you navigate the mess. I’ll let you see me lead, and I’ll teach you to do it your way, not just mine.”

That’s how leaders are built. One brave invitation at a time.

Leadership Is a Legacy, Not a Title

You won’t be remembered for your inbox zero streak or how many meetings you ran on time. But you will be remembered by the people you built.

That’s your legacy. Not just what you accomplish, but who you elevate in the process.That’s what multiplies long after your nameplate is removed from the office door.

So here’s the call to action:

Look around.

Find someone.

Take them under your wing.

Not because they’re ready, but because you’re willing.

Not because they’ll be perfect, but because they’re worth building.

Because leaders aren’t born. They’re built.

And someone, somewhere, is waiting for you to believe in them the way someone once believed in you.