The Hubris Hazard, and How to Avoid It

Hubris is something we’ve all seen in action and experienced all too often. It’s a significant occupational hazard and a serious potential derailment factor for leaders, organisations, and civil society. Hubristic leaders - intoxicated as they are with power, praise, and success–behave in ways that, if left unchecked, invite unintended and unforeseen negative consequences which impact destructively on individuals, industries, economies, and nations.

Despite numerous examples throughout history of hubris’ destructive consequences, it nonetheless appears to be an ever-present and growing danger. Many leaders seem to be blind to the hazards of hubris and oblivious to the lessons of history. Prevention is better than cure and understanding the nature of the hubris hazard and the associated risk factors will help leaders and managers improve their personal performance and avoid derailment and, even more importantly, protect the well-being of employees and the resilience of their organisations over the long term. This book explains the characteristics, causes, and consequences of hubris, and shows how to combat the significant hazard it poses to managers, leaders, organisations, and society. With contemporary examples, each chapter explores a particular ‘hubris risk factor’ and shows how the risk can be managed and mitigated and exposure to the hubris hazard minimised.

The Hubris Hazard, and How to Avoid It offers practical guidance and action points for managers and leaders on how to recognise hubris in themselves and others and what to do to combat it when it arises. It will also be useful for business and executive coaches and leadership trainers and developers.

Eugene Sadler-Smith is Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, UK. His research interests are hubris in leadership and intuition in decision-making. His most recent books include Hubristic Leadership and Intuition in Business.