Do people that promote themselves heavily—by describing themselves in glowing terms; providing long introductions; and, embellishing their accomplishments—annoy you? People that behave like this are relatively easy to spot. They are often quite loud, and their large egos generally signal their presence.

Interestingly, a recently published article has suggested an inverse relationship between ego and knowledge—which suggests that those with large egos have little to contribute. This is somewhat alarming, as many corporate disasters over the last forty years can be traced back to failures of governance, fuelled by hubris and overactive egos. Just how knowledgeable were the directors in these cases? The message in the article is relevant for everyone in the business community, particularly those directors that see themselves as being above the law and beyond any form of accountability. How long will it take, and how many more lives will be lost, before someone takes a stand?