I think values are more important than talents and characteristics.
When I read about the Sirah of the Prophet peace be upon him, I see that he was one of the ummah. He was able to bring out the best in all his companions...so it was said that he had a thousand saints raise with him. So it was that even if the "leadership" of Muslims crumbled after his demise, the ummah and Islam strived because he had worked on the society as a whole instead of specific individuals.