Publications
Publications
- February 18, 2022
- Wall Street Journal (online)
Why Really Smart Executives Do Really Stupid Things
Abstract
CEO exits due to workplace misconduct are all too common. Over and over we hear about top officials at companies, universities or in government resigning, either because they had affairs with subordinates in their inner circles or made verbal advances to junior workers that went too far.
These fallen chiefs are generally very smart people, often with stellar career histories. So why do they allow themselves to get involved in situations that allegedly or actually violate standards they helped set or signed off on? What is it about life at the top that seduces them (so to speak) into forgetting that the rules apply to them, too?
These fallen chiefs are generally very smart people, often with stellar career histories. So why do they allow themselves to get involved in situations that allegedly or actually violate standards they helped set or signed off on? What is it about life at the top that seduces them (so to speak) into forgetting that the rules apply to them, too?
Keywords
Citation
Kanter, Rosabeth M. "Why Really Smart Executives Do Really Stupid Things." Wall Street Journal (online) (February 18, 2022).