What mattered [in making the most effective C.E.O.’s], it turned out, were execution and organizational skills. The traits that correlated most powerfully with success were attention to detail, persistence, efficiency, analytic thoroughness and the ability to work long hours.<\/p>\n
In other words, warm, flexible, team-oriented and empathetic people are less likely to thrive as C.E.O.\u2019s. Organized, dogged, anal-retentive and slightly boring people are more likely to thrive.<\/p>\n
These results are consistent with a lot of work that\u2019s been done over the past few decades. In 2001, Jim Collins published a best-selling study called \u201cGood to Great.\u201d\u009d He found that the best C.E.O.\u2019s were not the flamboyant visionaries. They were humble, self-effacing, diligent and resolute souls who found one thing they were really good at and did it over and over again.<\/p>\n