We’ve all seen it at some point. Whether you’re the culprit, the victim or the innocent bystander, it creates an uncomfortable environment when people behave badly. It comes in many forms, constantly interrupting, swearing at someone when you feel they’ve made a mistake, taking other’s ideas as your own, gossiping behind someone’s back, belittling a subordinate and the list goes on.

Here’s the biggest problem for successful people who behave badly. They often believe that they arrived to their level of success because of how they behave instead of in spite of how they behave. I’ve believed this for years and Marshall Goldsmith outlines it so well in “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”. Much of our bad behavior is learned and can be unlearned with the right feedback and guidance.

Unfortunately, those of us behaving badly will never know what it’s costing us without feedback. Feedback tells us what needs adjusting in all areas of life and it is critical if we are to recognize our highest potential.