I'd say it's much more willingness to be a bit psychopathic. Most people wouldn't compromise their integrity to move into the C-suite. The competition is fierce, so the people who make it to the top are the people who /are/ willing to do anything to move into the C-suite.
I've also done work at that level, and some people outwardly appeared as sleazeballs, some almost radiated charisma and integrity, but when you got down to it, at the organization i was at, all were evil, backstabbing bastards.
Middle managers saw a lot of that, but tended to be decent people. And line employees never saw that -- middle management shielded them.
Good books to understand these dynamics better:
* Dictator's Handbook.
* Power, by Pfeffer.
Disclaimer, since I got jumped on this before: This refers to big organizations. If you're the CEO of a 5-person startup, this doesn't apply to you.
I've also done work at that level, and some people outwardly appeared as sleazeballs, some almost radiated charisma and integrity, but when you got down to it, at the organization i was at, all were evil, backstabbing bastards.
Middle managers saw a lot of that, but tended to be decent people. And line employees never saw that -- middle management shielded them.
Good books to understand these dynamics better:
* Dictator's Handbook.
* Power, by Pfeffer.
Disclaimer, since I got jumped on this before: This refers to big organizations. If you're the CEO of a 5-person startup, this doesn't apply to you.