Why anyone who claims to be an expert in leadership 'is a liar,' according to a bestselling author and TED legend

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Simon Sinek

Wikimedia Commons

Author and speaker Simon Sinek.

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Have you ever noticed how we throw around the phrase "born leader" as if a handful of mythical chosen ones were specifically put on this Earth to lead?

According to TED speaker and "Leaders Eat Last" and "Together is Better" author Simon Sinek, leaders are definitely not born.

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He argues that the ability to inspire and command isn't some mystical, innate quality. It's a skill set that can be honed and strengthened with practice. Some people demonstrate leadership abilities early on due to their education and upbringing, but there's little to stop the rest of us from trying to develop our own skills.

"Regardless of when we start our leadership education, it is an education," Sinek tells Business Insider. "Anybody who says, 'I'm an expert in leadership' is a liar. No one is an expert in leadership. Like, no one's an expert parent. It's a process and it's a constant education.

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"Some people are better at it because of the way they were raised and their education. But, at the end of the day, it's a learnable skill, like parenting."

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