Forbes has published an article called “The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives“. These are great conversation starters and topics of investigation, especially when auditing/interviewing executives in charge of enterprise security and/or risk management.

1. See themselves and their companies as dominating their environment
2. Identify so completely with the company that there is no clear boundary between their personal interests and their corporation’s interests
3. Think they have all the answers
4. Eliminate anyone who isn’t completely behind them
5. Consummate spokespersons, obsessed with the company image
6. Underestimate obstacles
7. Stubbornly rely on what worked for them in the past