Leadership is not personality. And in fact, if you’re highly charismatic, that’s not necessarily a positive, because the critical thing we found about how people engage with a leader is not about this external stuff–that’s really pretty irrelevant. It has to do with the answer to a simple question: “Why are you in it?”
Are you fundamentally doing something that’s about you? … I mean, if it’s fundamentally about you, as a leader, why should anybody give themselves over to what you’re trying to do? But if it’s fundamentally that you’re channeling your ego into a cause or a company or a set of work or something that you’re trying to accomplish that is not about you, that’s when people will sign up.
Collins knows a thing or two about leadership. Not only did he study it at Stanford, but he has written numerous books on the matter, served as a U.S. Marine, and was featured in multiple business periodicals for his work in the study of leadership. Not too bad. This (albeit surface-level) information is important for anyone seeking to improve their leadership skills. Even the meek can lead, so long as they have that “magnetic” quality and a genuine sincerity in achieving the common goal. Leadership skills are learned and honed, and Collins offers everyone a good preliminary look into the mind of a leader.