One pair of homonyms that directly relates to leadership and that consistently causes spelling angst is “principle” ending in “le” and “principal” ending in “al.” More critically, though, we also mix up the meaning of these words when it comes to leadership, thinking that “principal,” meaning the first and foremost, is more important than “principle,” meaning a rule or code.

I can offer any number of examples of bosses, people in leadership positions, unarguably the principal individuals, who are deeply unprincipled.

Get full access to On Leading With Greatness at jimsalvucci.substack.com/subscribe