Leadership: Leaders, Followers, Environments

Preventing and minimizing toxicity

Destructive leadership might result in a downward spiral of toxicity if bad leader behaviors cause additional problems to the detriment of the organization. A major concern for managers, leaders, and public officials is how to prevent negative effects of toxic leadership in the first place. Several prescriptions for the prevention of and solutions for destructive leadership are reviewed below. Before presenting these suggestions, however, it is useful to mention an important qualification. Some of the more serious toxic leadership situations might be called “wicked,” ill-structured, or messes.¹⁰⁹ They are not easily changed, and many appear unsolvable.¹¹⁰ Wicked problems are interrelated with other problems and have incomplete, contradictory, or changing requirements. Many so-called “failed states,” nations with dysfunctional legal, political, and social institutions, with impoverished citizens, and ruled by cruel and corrupt tyrants, are in this category.