Hubris

Hubris is the characteristic of excessive confidence or arrogance, which leads a person to believe that he or she may do no wrong. The overwhelming pride caused by hubris is often considered a flaw in character. Hubris can cause short-sighted, irrational or harmful behavior since the person does not stop to examine their behavior or consider the opinions of or effects on others when behaving.

Hubris may be developed after a person encounters a period of success. Corporate executives and traders overcome by hubris may become a liability for their firms. A manager might start making business decisions without fully thinking through the consequences, or a trader may begin taking on excessive risk. In many cases, people overcome by hubris will bring about their own downfall.

Chief executive officers and very successful businessmen who are overcome with hubris tend to be difficult to work with in team settings. They lack the ability to consider the opinions of others when they conflict with their own. This is because they believe they always know best.