Appendix A

Commonly Used (and Misused) Leadership Terms

In our experience, even the most qualified executives are prone to describe leadership in vague and imprecise terms. For example, during CEO succession projects, we often deal with corporate directors who say, “We need a leader with charisma.” Or, “Does she have the decisiveness to handle this position?” Or “Does she have leadership presence?” Unfortunately, rarely is there any common understanding of what these words mean or how they are related to effective leadership.

With this in mind, we have compiled this glossary. Note that many of these words are misnomers. Others are so ambiguous that they invite instant confusion. Some are important skills, but they flow from more basic traits. ...

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