I've met a lot of executives who've become executives with that type of attitude. Affability is one of the key properties of a successful politician. If you see

I've met a lot of executives who've become executives with that type of attitude. Affability is one of the key properties of a successful politician. If you seem pessimistic, defeatist, etc., people are not going to want you to be in a leadership position. You have to act like everything is sunshine and flowers and project that image. Nadella did become CEO by patiently waiting and practicing good politics, which includes projecting a faith in the system and not ruffling feathers by asking your bosses to pay you more money.