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Why Business Leaders Make Lousy Politicians - by Adam Grant

adamgrant.substack.com · 1,190 words · saved by 1 readers

When Donald Trump talked about deploying the military against "the enemy within," critics sounded the alarm—again—about his increasingly authoritarian rhetoric. Many see his escalating threats as proof of a growing thirst for power. But history suggests that another factor may be at least as relevant: mounting frustration at the compromises that political life demands. Trump pitched himself to the American people as a business tycoon, someone who knew how to close deals, vanquish competitors, and create jobs. He said those experiences would make him an effective leader. Yet it turns out that what makes people successful in business is a risk factor for failure in politics. Corporate America rewards achievement strivers—people who  love to aim high, work hard, and overcome obstacles. To see how those tendencies played out in the White House, psychologists scored presidential addresses on how often they referenced achievement. Years later, achievement-striving presidents got lower greatn

Why Business Leaders Make Lousy Politicians Adam Grant Oct 25, 2024 1,010 149 59 Share When Donald Trump talked about deploying the military against "the enemy within," critics sounded the alarm—again—about his increasingly authoritarian rhetoric. Many see his escalating threats as proof of a growing thirst for power. But history suggests that another factor may be at least as relevant: mounting frustration at the compromises that political life demands. Trump pitched himself to the American people as a business tycoon, someone who knew how to close deals, vanquish competitors, and create jobs

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