There is someone running for one of our local offices who I think would be great in the position. They are thorough and thoughtful, which would be admirable qualities in the role, but it could be challenging to get elected because of their soft-spoken nature.
Another candidate is the opposite—charismatic and seemingly likable—until you dig deeper and realize there isn’t much depth beneath the surface. Their personality may give them an advantage as a candidate, but they appear more interested in getting elected than in actually doing the job.
It’s the old sizzle vs. steak scenario — where a lot of hype plays well in the moment, but what you really want is meat behind the initial bravado. It’s true for political candidates, but it’s also an apt analogy for interviews, marketing, relationships, and really, for most things.
Do some digging to get to the next layer before being seduced by the sizzle.
