Too passionate?

1 min read · May 9, 2025
New Power Labs

Research by Joyce C. He, Jon M. Jachimowicz and Celia Moore reveals that men are often rewarded for displaying passion, while women are penalized for the same behaviour.

When men show passion, through energetic gestures, bright eyes, and enthusiasm, evaluators interpret it as a sign of dedication and effort. This works to their advantage, elevating them into high-potential categories, even if their performance is average. The underlying assumption is that men, often seen as “underapplied geniuses,” are capable of more if they just put in the effort.

The same displays of passion in women can lead to negative perceptions. Societal expectations are that women are already diligent. Hence, signs of passion in women are merely meeting expectations, or even viewed as overly emotional or “inappropriate.”

The result? Mediocre men are promoted while equally or more capable women are sidelined.

Moving beyond subjective interpretations of passion and instead evaluating talent based on tangible outcomes, what someone has actually achieved, solved, or led, ensures that potential isn’t mistaken for performance or enthusiasm for excellence.

Narinder

New Power Labs

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