In her session this morning, “Leadership Characteristics,” Lara Nichols, senior director at Tyco International, asserted that strong leaders — whether they’re positive or negative influences — share common characteristics in two realms: practical skills and inner convictions. For example, she cited some contentious examplesof leaders, including Jim Jones and Hitler. “They were influential, regardless of whether we agree with their positions or not,” she said. “We can’t argue that.”

...