"In the race to the corner office, the factors that propel leaders forward-vision, execution, industry expertise-are well understood. The factors that quietly take them out of the running are far more elusive. What separates those who move from shortlist to appointment often has little to do with capability. Instead, the disqualifiers are subtle, behavioral, and largely unintentional, surfacing in the small cues leaders reveal under scrutiny rather than the big, splashy moments."
"Executive recruiters, who sit at the center of nearly every major CEO succession, see these patterns more clearly than anyone. Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates, spends his days advising boards and assessing the world's most senior executives. He has watched exceptional candidates lose momentum at the final stage, and others rise simply because they avoided the traps their peers stumbled into."
"The most common red flag is an overdeveloped attachment to the word "I." Executives who position achievements solely as personal triumphs rather than as the product of a team unintentionally signal to boards that they may not share credit or power. Today's CEO searches prize collaboration, orchestration, and the ability to elevate an entire leadership team. Lean too heavily on individual accomplishments, and boards see a leadership profile misaligned with the modern expectations of the role."
Late-stage CEO selection is often derailed by subtle, behavioral signals rather than lack of competency. Executive recruiters identify patterns where exceptional candidates lose momentum because of unintentional cues. A prevalent red flag is excessive use of "I," which frames achievements as personal triumphs instead of team accomplishments and signals reluctance to share credit or power. Modern CEO roles prioritize collaboration, orchestration, and elevating the leadership team. Related missteps include displays of entitlement in logistics—insisting on first-class travel, prolonged unavailability, or rigid scheduling—which can suggest those leaders will be difficult to support. Conversely, flexibility signals respect.
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