Controlled Passion by Olivia

Controlled Passion by Olivia - December 2021 Scholarship Essay

I believe that the best trait that describes a leader is controlled passion. The Oxford Dictionary describes passion as “a very strong feeling of liking something.” I think that a leader should be passionate about their work.
Time and time again we see, especially in today’s world, the dry fruits of labor that come from leaders that aren’t truly invested in their work. The fruit isn’t ripe, about to burst with juice, but stale and mishappen from not enough water when it was still growing. A leader who is passionate will genuinely care about their work, prioritizing it, rather than casting it off to the side, remembering minutes before a deadline or a meeting that the project was there (and worthy of time and effort). A passionate leader will be committed to their projects and will handle them with the attention and care they deserve.
At the same time, leaders should be able to control their passions. The Oxford Dictionary defines control as “to limit something or make it happen in a particular way.” Control is a skill learned through much time and practice. It is a carefully honed craft and does not come naturally for many. What could a group ask for in a leader than for them to be both passionate about their work but be able to control their passions, to see the end goal with a calculated plan rather than to merely throw all caution to the wind with reckless abandon.
Both passion and control are best in balanced doses and the sign of a leader shows that balance, how the leader is a baker, if you will, who has learned how to measure carefully the ingredients until they reach the right consistency, combining together to make the most delicious treat. Without the right balance of both traits, the key ingredients, the dessert can be undercooked, overcooked, too sweet, too bitter, etc. Therefore, controlled passion is the best trait that describes a leader.