Why Are We Bad at Picking Good Leaders? A Better Way to Evaluate Leadership Potential

WHAT IS PASSION?

A lot of people equate passion with charisma, but the meaning goes much deeper. Passion describes something fundamental about an individual, about his or her underlying needs. By contrast, charisma is a rather superficial quality; it doesn't necessarily reflect what a person holds inside. Charismatic individuals can be quite persuasive, bold, even intoxicating. Many of them are excellent leaders. But their charm and polish can also mislead. Moreover, we can instantly name several effective leaders—people like Michael Bloomberg, Henry Kissinger, Hollywood director Ron Howard—who are clearly driven and passionate but far from charismatic. The truth is that some very successful people have a fire burning inside them that the rest ...