Yes, it’s all fun and games until you find out you’re sleeping with a woman who is your aunt and you didn’t know it. Sounding like an episode of Jerry Springer? NO! It’s the Game of Thrones!

This past season brought a few surprises but nothing, for me, was more surprising than to find out that Jon Snow is the legitimate heir to the Iron Throne. This fact got me to thinking about the age old debate between nature versus nurture as it pertains to leadership.

Are some people just born to lead? Was it the bloodline that Jon Snow was from that helped him step into a leadership role or was it the environment he grew up in? With growing up a bastard, he had to work harder to prove himself as semi-legitimate.

This is a debate that has gone on forever. There is a “great man” leadership theory that weighs in on the nature side. The theory purports that these individuals come into the world possessing certain characteristics and traits not found in all people. These abilities enable them to lead while shaping the very pages of history. Under this theory, prominent leaders throughout the course of history were born to lead and deserved to do so as a result of their natural abilities and talents.

That is the foundation on this theory comes from the Great Man Theory which was established in the 19th century by proponents such as historian Thomas Carlyle, who put forth the idea that the world’s history is nothing more than a collection of biographies belonging to great men.

I, personally, think the great man theory is bullshit. Leading isn’t about charisma, it’s about character and deliberative action. You can be born with the traits that a leader would want to have but, if you don’t do something with them, you’re not leading.

On this week’s Leadership Happy Hour podcast, Thom Singer, and I discuss the nature versus nurture question, stepping into the leader you were meant to be, and how all of leadership is based on human relationships.

Listen in below. I think you’ll get some insights on how to lead better and be of better use to your team.