The Corner Office

Adam Bryant is the author of the weekly "Corner Office" column in The New York Times.  The column is structured as Q&A with executives from a broad range of industries covering subjects ranging from management to leadership to hiring.  Adam has published a new book The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons From CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed - - a look at the attributes and qualities from a sample of 70 leaders from the column.  The good news: these traits are not genetic.  It's not as if you have to be tall or left-handed.  These qualities are developed through attitude, habit and discipline - - factors that are within your control.  They will make you stand out.

Consider the following list of key points from the book - -

• They are passionately curious people.
• They want to know people's stories, and what they do.
• Relentless questioning - - it helps spot opportunities.
• "I am a student of human nature"
• Not the smartest - - but the best students.  They learn from everybody.
• ."Passionate Curiosity"
• Their greatest contributions might be asking the right questions.
• They want to hear about your failures.
• Driven by a strong work ethic forged in adversity.
• They like people that have overcome something.
• Positive attitude mixed with a sense of purpose and determination.
• They have team smarts - - learned lessons in team sports.
• Are you reliable?  Are you a playmaker?  What does the team need?
• Build a team, manage a team, recruit a team, work well with a team - - figure this out!!
• Simple - - concise and get to the point.
• Hate unfocused thinking.
• PowerPoint - - you lose the "Power" if you don't get to the "Point."
• Premium on the ability to synthesize.
• Connect dots in new ways.
• Are you fearless?
• Do you have an appreciation for change?
• Can you mentor people quickly up the learning curve?