I've worked with a few successful CEOs, some of which were 8-9 figure net worth, and one 10 figure net worth. One relatively consistent trait I've seen is that

I've worked with a few successful CEOs, some of which were 8-9 figure net worth, and one 10 figure net worth. One relatively consistent trait I've seen is that they all were brutally honest about the work people did and a person's particular strengths and weaknesses. This is often construed with meanness. I don't think it's the same trait, but many people often interpret criticism of their work as meanness. Sometimes it's quite hard to not see it that way, since an honest criticism may actually point out major flaws in your overall skills, talent, etc, not just some local error you made. Of course, the consensus forms that this person is an asshole. Unlike CEOs and other high level decision makers, most people do not face consequences if they do not call a spade a spade and risk offending others, so this makes it very easy for these types of brutally honest people to stand out as being unnecessarily critical. The net result often seems to be, however, better work out of the people who can take the heat, and a stronger overall team since the people who take criticism personally end up leaving. Overall I think I completely disagree with pg here, it seems the most incredibly successful people are at least perceived as mean, because they have a character trait which allows them to cut through bullshit and not care about hurting a person's feelings by giving objective criticism.