Dysfunctional characteristics of toxic leaders

(Rift Valley, Kenya)

When I was in Kenya doing a pastors conference I spent a day with a friend who was a PhD student doing research on African political leaders. One book he recommended to me was The Allure of Toxic Leaders, by  Jean Lipman-Blumen.

Here are Lipman-Blumen's... Dysfunctional characteristics of toxic leaders.

• Lack of integrity that marks the leader as cynical, corrupt, hypocritical, or untrustworthy

• Insatiable ambition that prompts leaders to put their own sustained power, glory, and fortunes above their followers’ well-being

• Enormous egos that blind leaders to the shortcomings of their own character and thus limit their capacity for self-renewal

• Arrogance that prevents acknowledging their mistakes and, instead, leads to blaming others

• Amorality that makes it near impossible for them to discern right from wrong

• Avarice that drives leaders to put money and what money can buy at the top of the list

• Reckless disregard for the costs of their actions to others as well as to themselves

• Cowardice that leads them to shrink from the difficult choices

• Failure both to understand the nature of relevant problems and to act competently and effectively in leadership situations