Why good leaders turn bad and harm their teams

Why good leaders turn bad and harm their teams 
Forbes; by Benjamin Laker; 12/17/24 
Leadership is often idealized as a force for good—driving positive change, inspiring teams and achieving ambitious goals. However, leadership also has a darker side. Power, ambition and the pressures of professional life can push even well-intentioned leaders into behaviors that harm their teams, their companies and, in many cases, themselves. Understanding why and how leaders succumb to the darker aspects of leadership is not just an academic exercise—it’s also a practical challenge for anyone navigating today’s workplaces.

• The Allure of Power and Control ...
• When Ambition Turns Toxic ...
• The Role of Systems in Enabling Harmful Leadership ...
• The Psychological Underpinnings of Destructive Leadership ...

Editor's note: For all hospice and palliative leaders, this is a must-read article. Likely, each of us can easily name leaders who--from our own perspectives--were "good," turned "bad," and harmed their teams. (1) Dive into this article, reflecting on your experiences, struggles, and outcomes about other leaders. (2) Next, look in the mirror. Dare to ask, "what dynamics from this article do I see within myself?" If your answer is "none," look again. Every light has its shadow; the danger is in not seeing. (3) Examine this content from an organizational systems perspective, i.e. using the section "The Role of Systems in Enabling Harmful Leadership."