If any of the following behaviors sound like you or someone you work with, beware In Why CEOs Fail, David L. Dotlich and Peter C. Cairo describe the most common characteristics of derailed top executives and how you can avoid them:

• Arrogance--you think that you're right, and everyone else is wrong.
• Melodrama--you need to be the center of attention.
• Volatility--you're subject to mood swings.
• Excessive Caution--you're afraid to make decisions.
• Habitual Distrust--you focus on the negatives.
...