This study investigated the relationship between certain institutional characteristics and perceptions of North Carolina community college presidents about the importance of leadership roles, values and emotions, and skills. Those characteristics were the size of the institution, the growth rate of the institution, and the geographic setting of the institution. The perceptions of three groups of presidents were studied. One group consisted of presidents of large community colleges and presidents of small community colleges. The second group consisted of the presidents of high enrollment growth colleges and the presidents of low enrollment growth colleges. The final group comprised presidents of urban community colleges and rural community colleges. Fifty-one of the 58 presidents selected participated, a rate of 87.93%. The participants completed the Leadership Competence Assessment Instrument, responding to 30 specific leadership competencies by estimating the energy they expended for each and their effectiveness in addressing that competency. Overall, there were no differences in the perceptions of presidents of large and small community colleges, presidents of high enrollment growth and low enrollment growth community colleges, and presidents of urban and rural community colleges about the leadership roles, values and emotions, and skills that are most important. Significant differences were detected in some individual competencies, suggesting that size, enrollment growth, and geographic location may have an influence on the perceptions of presidents. Additional research is necessary to clarify these findings. Seven appendixes contain supplemental information and cover letters and forms used in the study. (Contains 29 tables and 129 references.) (SLD)