Former IBM CEO - 3 Rules for Leaders

Question 1

Self-serving

Answer 1

adjective
Acting in a way that prioritizes one’s own interests, without consideration for others
* The politician’s self-serving policies were designed to benefit his own business interests.
* His actions were purely self-serving, with no thought for how they affected the team.

Question 2

Act in the name
(of an emotion)

Answer 2

verbal phrase
To let a particular emotion drive your actions
* She acted in the name of love, even though her decisions hurt those around her.
* You act in the name of fear, letting it dictate your choices and hold you back from opportunities.

Question 3

Unilateral

Answer 3

adjective
Decided by one person / group, without input from others
* The CEO made a unilateral decision to cut costs without consulting the board.
* The country imposed unilateral sanctions, acting without support from its allies.

Question 4

Co-chair

Answer 4

verb
To jointly lead or manage an organization with one or more other individuals
* They co-chaired the board for five years, successfully guiding the organization through many changes.
* She agreed to co-chair the project with her colleague, splitting responsibilities equally.

Question 5

On the heels
(of something)

Answer 5

idiom
Immediately following a particular event or action
* She released her second book on the heels of the bestseller’s success.
* The company announced a new initiative on the heels of a successful marketing campaign.

Question 6

Flee

Answer 6

verb
To escape or run away from a place, usually to avoid danger
* They had to flee the building when the fire alarm went off.
* The crowd began to flee when they heard the explosion.

Question 7

Bank (someone)

Answer 7

verb
To build and strengthen a relationship with someone to secure their support for future success
* The CEO visited key clients to bank them and ensure their continued support.
* The company spent months banking investors by providing regular updates and fostering trust.

Question 8

An old saying

Answer 8

noun
A traditional phrase that expresses common wisdom or advice
* An old saying goes, “Time is money.”
* The old saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ reminds us to be patient.

Question 9

Discretionary energy

Answer 9

noun
The energy you have left after doing important tasks, which you can use for things you want to do for fun
* After finishing my work, I had just enough discretionary energy to go for a jog.
* He used his discretionary energy to volunteer at the local shelter.

Question 10

Build buy-in

Answer 10

verbal phrase
To gain support or approval for an idea or plan
* She successfully built buy-in for her proposal by highlighting its benefits.
* They spent weeks building buy-in from investors before launching the project.

Question 11

Make a world of difference

Answer 11

verbal phrase
To have a very significant or positive impact, often improving a situation greatly
* A little encouragement can make the world of difference to someone’s confidence.
* The new software update made the world of difference in how the system runs.

Question 12

Dictate

Answer 12

verb
To command or order something
* The CEO dictated the company’s new direction in the meeting.
* He tried to dictate the terms of the agreement, but the team disagreed.

Question 13

“Rah-rah”

Answer 13

adjective
Overly enthusiastic support, often in a cheerful or exaggerated way
* His rah-rah attitude made it hard to take the situation seriously.
* The CEO gave a rah-rah presentation about the company’s future.