Do you naturally find yourself in a leadership position when working with others? Maybe it seems instinctive to coach your child’s soccer team or to lead a group working on a project. Yet you don't have to be in a leadership role to have the qualities that make a leader successful. Certain qualities position people to be good leaders, whether they’re genetically based or learned over time.

Leadership and genetics are related to some degree, but there's far more to the story than that. If you're wondering whether you have genes that give you a leg up in the leadership world, an AncestryDNA^®+Traits test can provide you with genetic insights.

What Does It Mean to Show Leadership Qualities?

People who show leadership qualities display characteristics such as self-awareness, trustworthiness, empathy, self-discipline, and an interest in fostering growth in others. These traits help them understand how team dynamics work and how to direct each person in a way that's conducive to an end goal. Good leaders are motivated by a growth mindset and continually strive to improve. Those who demonstrate effective leadership traits can be compelling to follow—they generate respect without having to demand it. Other important characteristics include:

• Clear communication and active listening
• Patience
• Good decision-making skills
• Transparency
• Empathy

Good leaders can emerge in just about any group setting when there's a shared goal to pursue. Athletic coaches, for example, need strong leadership skills to help their team develop their skills. In business, good leaders keep operations running smoothly. In less formal situations, leaders may help keep a group project on task. For example, if your family decides to start a garden, a leader can help everyone work together to plant seeds in time for a summer harvest of tomatoes. Even in hobbies such as cooperative video games, a leader who understands the intricacies of the group can help a team compete.

Genetics and Leadership

In an effort to determine if leaders are born or made, Ancestry^® scientists sought to determine the role of genetics in leadership. They collected data and compared the DNA of over 220,000 people who answered, "How skilled are you at directing others?" The Ancestry study of this complex trait revealed over 470 DNA markers connected to leadership ability. The scientists then calculated a polygenic risk score—a tool to predict your leadership ability based on your genetics. Importantly, Ancestry scientists found that the differences in peoples’ DNA could only explain a small amount of the variation in their leadership ability—less than 6%. In other words, leadership skills are partly due to genetics, but they’re more influenced by environmental factors and learned behaviors.

How Environmental Factors Impact Leadership: What Scientists Say

Environmental factors play a significant role in determining whether you can become a good leader. One study looked at CEOs and explored numerous variables related to them, including birth order, gender, and age. Notably, 45.4% of the CEOs were the oldest siblings—a statistic that was higher than the researchers had expected.

A willingness to take risks is arguably another characteristic possessed by good leaders. While this trait is linked, in part, to genetics, it's also one that can be developed and grown over time.

Likewise, leaders can be cultivated over time through practice. While some people may be more prone to a leader's personality traits, anyone can develop leadership skills. In fact, many companies have leadership development programs.

Interesting Insights About Leadership

How good leadership is defined can also vary based on the cultural lens through which it's viewed. People living in the United Kingdom, Japan, Chile, Nigeria, or Italy will likely have different and nuanced ideas about how to define effective leadership.

A 2022 global consulting roundtable, hosted by Regent University School of Business & Leadership, considered these broad groupings of leadership styles around the world.

• Leaders within Latin American culture—nations such as Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala—tend to favor collectivistic rather than individualistic approaches to leadership—to emphasize the group over the individual.
• In Asian cultures, represented by countries like China, South Korea, and Japan, leaders are expected to balance a degree of conservatism and assertiveness. Leadership involves a team-oriented approach and a willingness to take accountability for the group.
• In Anglo culture, highly individualistic nations like the United States, Canada, and Australia look for leaders who promote a team spirit, yet still express interest in the individual. These populations expect to be part of the decision-making process—to collaborate with leadership.

Whether you’re a natural-born leader or you shy away from being put in that role, your genetics may influence your effectiveness when put in charge of a group. Taking an AncestryDNA+Traits test can tell you whether you have DNA markers linked to traits like leadership. If you've already taken a DNA test, you can review your results with an Ancestry membership.

References

"30 Companies That Offer Exceptional Professional Development Programs for Entry-Level Employees." RippleMatch. October 31, 2023. https://ripplematch.com/career-advice/companies-that-offer-exceptional-professional-development-programs-for-entry-level-employees-f53abebf/.

Custódio, Cláudia, and Stephan Siegel. "Are chief executive officers more likely to be first-borns?" PloS One. June 30, 2020. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0234987.

The Dangers Of Playing It Safe: Six Truths About Why And How Leaders Need To Take Risks. Forbes. October 25, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/10/25/the-dangers-of-playing-it-safe-six-truths-about-why-and-how-leaders-need-to-take-risks/?sh=732cd04a6c95.

"How to Develop Exceptional Leadership Skills: A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Strong Leader." Park University. July 19, 2023. https://www.park.edu/blog/how-to-develop-exceptional-leadership-skills-a-comprehensive-guide-to-becoming-a-strong-leader/.

Segundo, Michelle G. "Leadership and Culture: What Difference Does it Make?" 2023. Regent University School of Business & Leadership. https://www.regent.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Regent-Research-Roundtables-2022-Global-Consulting-Segundo.pdf.

"The Top 10 Qualities of a Great Leader." Champlain College Online. December 8, 2023. https://online.champlain.edu/blog/top-qualities-of-a-great-leader.

"What Is A Good Leader? Seven Ways To Know You're On The Right Track." Central Michigan University. January 30, 2023. https://www.cmich.edu/blog/all-things-higher-ed/what-is-a-good-leader.