Handbook for Developing Emotional and Social Intelligence: Best Practices, Case Studies, and Strategies

6.6. CATASTROPHIC LEADERSHIP FAILURE

Serving in a leadership capacity can be very stressful—especially as one climbs higher in the organization. Organizational stress appears to be increasing, which increases stress on leaders. An important aspect of a leader's job is to manage his or her stress, workplace stress, and the stress of direct reports. A leader's failure to adequately manage stress can have severe negative consequences on the leader, the organization, and its members.

As discussed above, as a leader's stress level increases, not only does his or her IQ decrease, but so does EI. Catastrophic Leadership Failure occurs when a leader's stress level rises to the point at which there is a sudden, dramatic loss in his or her ability to ...