True or False? Leaders, Take the Test

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most commonly discussed (and often misunderstood) rules from the executive leadership world, ranked by frequency and impact:

1) Executive recruiters are my best source of career advice.
False.
While recruiters can offer some guidance, they primarily work for companies, not individuals. Although some recruiters do a great job of helping job seekers, their interests often don’t align with yours. In fact, personal and professional networks account for over 60% of new job opportunities, while recruiters only account for about 6-8%. If someone claims they split their attention equally between client and talent, they’re likely not being entirely honest.

2) What I’ve accomplished to date will always apply.
True, with a caveat.
It’s true that your past achievements are valuable, but remember what Marshall Goldsmith says in his book, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.” Successes from the past don’t always guarantee success in future roles. The key is ensuring your experiences and talents align with the requirements of the new position, rather than inflating your ego. This is often overlooked in our results-driven culture.

3) What I do or offer matters more than who I am.
Increasingly false.
At the CEO and board level, character counts more than ever. According to Stephen Covey, nearly 75% of leadership failures stem from character flaws, based on research involving over 50,000 people in The 8th Habit. Skills matter, but character is what holds long-term leadership together.

4) Work with passion is a passing fad.
False.
There’s truth to the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” While it might sound idealistic, passion in work is a key factor for long-term success. Most top performers may not love their job every single day, but they believe in the mission or find joy in the work they do most of the time.

5) The law of reciprocity applies more than half the time.
False.
This is often overemphasized in management seminars. The law of reciprocity doesn’t hold true as often as people think—only about 20-30% of the time, not 50%. If you don’t believe this, ask any high-level executive who’s expected to generate their own revenue or results. They’ll tell you it’s not as simple as giving to get.