TOXIC
LEADERSHIP
2LT FAKO
MMMS,MSM
HELICoPTER TECH
INTRODUCTION
• Military is the institute of High ethics, standards and values, and like any
other institution it’s not exclusive to toxic leadership, therefore it is bound
to pay particular attention to toxic leadership to avoid serious
consequences caused by leadership failure.
• A professional recruited force requires the leadership that inspires not
dissuades, continuing service.
Aim
• To equip NCOs with knowledge on toxic leadership
Objective
• To create Toxic Leadership awareness which will enlighten the Ncos on
how to avoid it
Subject matter
Triggers of
Toxic leadership
Definition
traits/characteristics toxic
Leadership
Consequence Ways to
Types of
s of Toxic handle toxic Conclusion
toxic leaders
leadership leadership
Toxic leadership traits
Identifying the behaviours and characteristics of toxic leadership is the important first step in
differentiating between healthy and toxic relationship:
• Incompetent
• Sense of inadequacy
• Irresponsible
• Irritable
• Egotism
• Sets unrealistic expectations
• Competitive Attitude
• Arrogance
TOXIC LEADERSHIP TRAITS cont
• Oppositional behaviour -by criticizing his troops effort undervaluing
their good work as well as creating the environment in which the
followers feel inadequate. Instead if building a team he uses divide and
rule. This kind never approves of those who disagree with them.
TOXIC LEADERSHIP TRAITS cont
• Autocratic behaviour – this type use their Rank and appointment/authority to
achieve their goals. He imposes his view without considering other
perspective.To him communication is primarily a directive process. His way
or highway followed by the punishment in case troop do not obey.
• Cowardice: Scared to take any risks and responsibility, a lack of physical
courage in the battlefield. Even on daily bases he never confronts his superiors
Triggers of toxic leadership
Fig 1
• Leaders TOXIC LDRSHP Followers
-Power, -Low maturity
-Personality, -Ethics/ values
-Ideology -Similar view
Environment
-Instability
-Lack of checks
-Lack of resources
Types of toxic leaders
• At first toxic leadership connotes an evil bullying person, who intentionally
or unintentionally harm the organisation and its followers through his actions
towards them. The nature and the degree of harm that results helps to
characterise the toxic leader type.
• ABSENTEE LEADER: Detached from organisation and followers, he's just
physically there, but not engage in daily routines.
• INCOMPETENT LEADER: Lack skills, poor decision making, careless, can’t
communicate his ideas, can’t delegate any authority to competent supporter
TOXIC LEADERS
CONT’
• THE CODEPENDENT LEADER: People
pleaser, avoids confrontation and self esteem,
low confidence and low self worth.
• THE BUSY BODY LEADER: Starts many
projects ,finishes none.
•THE PARANOID LEADER: exerts power fears
inferiority
• THE RIGID LEADER: Stuck in old ways,
cannot conform
Types of toxic leaders cont’
• The Controller Leader; Has to be in control or it will fail
• The Compulsive Leader; unpredictable behaviour, inconsistent decision
making.
• The Enforce Leader; Pleases the superiors by enforcing decisions
Types of toxic leaders cont’
• The Narcissist; needs spotlight ,steals attention from others.
• The streets fighter leader; help buddies, attacks those with opposing
opinions
• The Callous Leaders; no compassion and instils fear
• The corrupt Leader; power n greed
EFFECTS OF TOXIC
LEADERSHIP
• Toxic Leadership
• Reduces unit cohesion
• Destroys unit Morale
• Reduces unit discipline
• Compromises Safety
• Reduce quality of Work
• Reduce commitment to the army
Ways to handle toxic Leadership
• Keep records.
• Build support System.
• Maintain Emotional Control.
• Remain impartial (maintain safe emotional distance).
• Make own analysis of the situation.
• Be firm especially when doing the right thing.
conclusion
• All services in the military can be dramatically affected by a small number
of toxic leaders if there are no regular check ups on leadership.
• ´Toxicity appears as the side effect of a leader’s desperate attempt to
camouflage his inadequacy’
