THE DEEPER REASON
Andrea Pacini —
In The Power of Moments, Chip and Dan Heath write that purpose is a stronger predictor of performance than passion.
When someone’s values align with their work, they tend to perform better – even under pressure.
We often hear that passion makes a presentation better.
And there’s truth in that.
But purpose can go deeper.
Imagine two people speaking at a sustainability conference.
One is passionate about data.
The other shares a story about growing up near a polluted river, and how that experience shaped their decision to work in environmental policy.
Same topic. Different impact.
The second speaker is anchored in purpose.
That comes through in their voice and their story.
And the audience feels it.
When you speak with purpose, people listen – because you’re sharing what matters.
So before your next presentation, ask yourself:
Why does this matter to me – and why should it matter to them?
This reflection is adapted from Timeless Presenter, my book on the principles of communication that never expire.