Is ambition always about climbing the ladder or can it be about mastering where you are?

In this episode of the #LeadershipTraitsDecoded Podcast, Cynthia Kiriazis and Drea Martin unpack the often misunderstood trait of hunger & drive - the internal ambition to achieve, improve, and push beyond expectations with relentless energy and proactive ownership.

They explore:

• Hunger/drive as a constant push for progress and self-fueled motivation
• Why a 50th percentile score means “average,” not failing — and why that’s often enough
• Vertical drive (pursuing advancement) vs. horizontal drive (mastering your current role)
• How personal purpose shapes the way hunger/drive shows up in leaders
• Why leaders should ask about their team’s passions to better understand motivation
• Why drive should be evaluated against role needs, not arbitrary standards.

The conversation highlights how personal purpose shapes drive, how leaders can better understand what motivates their teams, and why matching the right level of hunger and drive to the right role is essential for both satisfaction and performance.

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