Bad

Leadership
BUS 4101
Dr. Anca
ECMIT, Summer 2014

There is a dark side of the human condition.
It paints leadership in shades of grayand
in black.
- Barbara Kellerman
Why Do Followers Behave Badly?
Bad leaders often satisfy our most basic
human needs like safety, simplicity, and
certainty.
It may simply be in their best (selfish)
interests to go with the flow.
Not following may entail risk and certainly
requires courage.
The Good News About
Bad Leadership
The good news is that the balance of power between
leaders and followers has shifted in recent years.
More followers are divesting leaders of some power,
authority, and influence. This is all to the good,
because once they are entrenched, bad leaders
seldom change or quit of their own will. That means
its up to us to insist either on change or an early
exit.
At the origin of bad leadership is
the perception of unmet needs.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Self-actualization

Esteem
Love

Safety
Physical Needs

According to Abraham Maslow, we live
at the lowest level of unmet need.
We do not move higher until the need is
met.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
If, due to background or traumatic past
experience, we feel threatened at a
level of need, it consumes our interest,
and can breed destructive behaviors.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Four Stages are often involved in
the dark side of leadership
1. Stage 1 is NEEDS, The leader has needs that need to
be met.
2. Stage 2 is TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES. This makes the
leader feel that some need is not met (or at risk of
becoming unmet). The missing block in the pyramid.
3. Stage 3 is EXISTENTIAL DOUBT, This the feeling that
unmet needs flow from personal failure.
4. Stage 4 is DARK SIDE DEVELOPMENT. Development of
destructive behaviors that attempt to compensate for
the feelings of inferiority or failure.

Types of Bad Leadership
Ineffective and Unethical Leadership

Ineffective Leadership -3 kinds
1. incompetent leadership the leader and at least some
followers lack the will or skill (or both) to sustain effective
action. With regard to at least one important
leadership challenge, they do not create positive
change.
2. rigid leadership the leader and at least some followers
are stiff and unyielding. Although they may be
competent, they are unable or unwilling to adapt to
new ideas, new information, or changing times.

3. intemperate leadership the leader lacks self-control
and is aided and abetted by followers who are
unwilling or unable to intervene.



Unethical Leadership
Unethical Leadership 4 kinds

1. callous leadership the leader and at least
some followers are uncaring or unkind.
Ignored or discounted are the needs, wants,
and wishes of most members of the group or
organization, especially subordinates.

2. corrupt leadership the leader and at least
some followers lie, cheat, or steal. To a
degree that exceeds the norm, they put self-
interest ahead of the public interest.


Unethical Leadership
3. insular leadership the leader and at least
some followers minimize or disregard the health
and welfare of the other i.e., those outside
the group or organization for which they are
directly responsible.

3. evil leadership the leader and at least some
followers commit atrocities. They use pain as
an instrument of power. The harm done to
men, women, and children is severe rather
than slight. The harm can be physical,
psychological, or both.