Essay on the Dark Side of Leadership and Critical Management Studies

This essay delves into the dark side of leadership, examining the negative behaviors and traits exhibited by leaders and their impact on organizational outcomes. It draws on critical management studies to analyze various perspectives on the subject. The essay explores how traits like arrogance, selfishness, and narcissism can negatively affect employee morale, decision-making, and overall company performance. It reviews the arguments of various scholars, providing insights into the darker aspects of leadership. Furthermore, the essay discusses methods for mitigating these negative aspects, such as seeking employee feedback and promoting self-awareness among leaders. By analyzing the causes and consequences of the dark side of leadership, the essay provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and potential solutions related to effective management practices. The essay also references supporting examples to strengthen the arguments and claims made. This assignment is contributed by a student and is available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-based study tools for students.

CRITICAL
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

MAIN BODY
Dark side of the leadership studies and evaluation of fact that whether the claims of critical
scholars are correct or not.
The literature review is a type of technique which is very helpful for the scholars and
learner in reviewing of the different types of the literature in order to review the articles related
to the topic of the study (Kılıç and Günsel, 2019). In the present essay the different views of the
authors and scholars relating to some issues or the topic of the study. This is very important as
this help the researcher or the scholar in managing the study in more vital and critical manner.
Thus, the current essay will first outline the views of different authors and scholars relating to the
dark side of the leadership. In the end the discussion will take place that whether the claims of
the scholars are correct or not.
As per the views of Ateş and et.al. (2020) the leadership is an act of directing and guiding
the employees by a leader in order to attain some common goals and objectives of the business.
For the success of the business it is very essential for the company to have an effective leader
and to make sure that the all the employees follow the working and the direction of the leader in
effective manner. This is because if the employees will follow the leader then the company will
get success in sure manner. But with the advantages and the positive impact of the use of
leadership on the business there are some of the disadvantages as well and this affect the working
of the company to a great extent. But along with this there are some of the darker side of the use
of leadership which affects the working of the company to a great extent.
Loh and et.al., (2016) articulates that the dark side of the leadership is defined as the
ongoing pattern of the behaviour which is exhibited by the leader which results in negative
organizational outcome. This negative result is based over the interaction which takes place
between the leader and the follower and the business environment. This is a dark side because of
the fact that it might be possible that the employees within the company do not like the
behaviour or the working pattern of the leader within the company. Hence because of this the
leaders are not liked by the employees within the company and they do not like to follow the
orders being provided by the company to a great extent. Also, the dark side of the leadership
comes out when the leader faces increased pressure that whither they will be successful in their
working or not. The leaders who come and cross the dark side of the leadership result to be
contributing to the negative results.

As per the views of Shek, Chung and Dou (2019) this is majorly because of the fact that
the leader at this stage are not comfortable in working in the company as the followers or the
employees are not listening to them and following them. Hence, here the leader develops the
feeling that the employees within the company are not listening to the leader and this develops
some inferior feeling within the leader. These attributes includes the feeling of controlling,
arrogance, dishonesty, selfishness and many other different feeling and attributes. This is also
majorly because of the fact that the employees within the company are not listening to the
employees and this makes the leader feel that they are not much competent.
In the thinking of Erden and Otken (2019) the major dark side of the leadership is that the
leader can enforce the followers even if the employees need not to follow the direction being
provided to them. This is a darker side because of the fact that the leader has the authority that
they can control and monitor the employees in the way they want. Thus, this might create a
negative feeling among the employees that the leader will control the employees and their
working to a great extent. Thus, here the employees will feel that the leader will govern the
working and the style or way of working to a great extent. Thus, this will take the employees
away from the leader and the employees will not be able to trust the leader and the working
capacity of the employees as well.
In against of this The dark side of leadership, (2020) states that the major dark side of the
leadership is the arrogance which might develop in the leader. This is majorly due to the reason
that the leaders have and enjoy a lot of power and this might influence the leaders in using the
power in some negative manner. Thus, this demotivates the other employees as the leader will
exercise their power in some wrong or incorrect manner. Hence, here the leader can also become
arrogant as they have high power and this might affect the decision making power of the leader
and this can also develop a sense of pride and effectiveness among the leader that they have the
power so they can shape the working of the employees. But in actual this is not the fact as the
leader is responsible for just directing the path to the employees but the employees on the other
side will work in the way they want. They just keep in mind what the leader said and then they
work in the way they want and as per their requirement only.
On the other side Simonet and et.al., (2018) argues that also another major darker side of
the leadership is the attribute of selfishness. This is majorly because of the reason that when the
leader gets the power in their hand then they become selfish. When the leader gets the high

power and authority within the company then they think that they can run and handle the
company on their own. But this is not happening in actual because of the fact that when the
leader gets the power then at that time they only get the power for the providing of the direction
to the employees and not more power than this. Hence, this can build the feeling of selfishness
among the leader that they are more powerful than the other people working within the company.
Hence, this increase in the feeling of selfishness among themselves and this affect the working of
them. This is majorly because of the fact that if the leader will work in selfish manner then they
will mainly focus on their personal growth and not the growth of the company and the
employees.
As per the views of Christopher, (2017) the another major dark side of the leadership is
the narcissistic which is a personality disorder under which the person metal condition includes
the feeling of inflated sense of their own importance and deep need of the excessive attention and
admiration to them. Under this mental condition the leader of the company feels that they are the
only important factor for the success of the company and without whom the company cannot run
and operate in successful manner. Also, these people require a lot of attention and admiration
and this will make the leader proudly and full of empathy that there is no other person superior to
them and who is more capable to them. Hence, this feeling makes the leader think that they are
superior from every person and no one is better than them and they are only the reason for the
success of the company.
The dark side of the leadership is correct as in actual these things take place that is in
actual sometimes the leader feels that they are more important for the success of the company.
But in actual this is not the reason and the leader are just an integral part of the company without
which the employees cannot make sure that what work they have to perform and in what manner
it need to be executed. Hence, for this betterment it is advisable for the company and leader to
take some measures and steps so that this darker side of the leadership can be eradicated from the
company. Thus, after this removal this will result in more clear and good leadership going on
within the company.
As per the views of Collinson (2017) the major step in removing the darker side of the
leadership is of asking for the frequent feedback from the employees and other management
team. This is essential for the leader because of the fact that when the feedback is being given to
the leader that in which areas they are good and which area requires some improvement then this

will motivate the leader to work in more effective manner. Hence, this feedback can only be
provided by the employees or the people who are working with the leader. This is majorly
because of the fact that when the leader works with the employees then the employees are able to
understand the leader in more effective manner as compared to the leader themselves. This is due
to the reason that the employees observe and interacts with the leader more and they can
understand in more proper manner that where the leader need to improve and which aspect of its
leadership is better.
In against of this Haider and et.al., (2018) articulates that the major method or technique
of reducing the darker side of leadership from the leader of the company is increasing the self-
awareness. Under this method it is the moral duty of the leader themselves that they must be self
aware. This particularly means that when it comes to leader to manage the business in the highly
global business environment where there are frequent and rapid changes taking place it is the
moral duty of the leader to be self aware. This is majorly pertaining to the fact that the leader
need to take decision in the dynamic and ever changing business environment and this need to be
considered by the leader before taking the decision.
Hence, it is the moral duty of the leader to be self aware of all the changes taking place in
the working of the company. This is majorly because of the reason that if the leader will not be
self aware then they will not be able to manage the recent changes taking place within the
environment. Hence, for the effective leadership skill it is essential for the leader to be self aware
so that they automatically take into consideration all these changes and then to implement these
changes in their working so that it can be improved and profitability can also be increased.
In the end it can be said that it is very essential for the leaders to not adapt to the darker
side of the leadership. This is majorly because of the reason that this darker side of the leadership
will degrade the working efficiency of the leader and indirectly this will impact the whole
working of the company and the employees working in the company. Hence, for the proper and
effective management of the company it is very essential for the leaders of company to work in
effective and efficient manner (Harris and Jones, 2018). The present essay highlighted the
different dark side of the leadership which included some of the attributes which comes in the
leader. These attributes are like the narcissistic, arrogance, dishonesty, selfishness and many
other different attributes. Form the study it was seen that the company faces many difficulties if
the leader is at the darker side of the leadership. On the other side the essay also highlighted

some of the measures which can help the leader in managing the darker side of the leadership.
These measures were like taking feedback from the employees and colleagues and also being self
aware so that is there are any of the changes then it can be addressed.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ateş, N.Y., and et.al., 2020. The dark side of visionary leadership in strategy implementation:
Strategic alignment, strategic consensus, and commitment. Journal of
Management. 46(5). pp.637-665.
Christopher, E., 2017. The Dark Side of Organizational Leadership in the Transformation of
Asia and the Need for Reform in Public and Private Sectors: Cases from China and
India. In The Palgrave Handbook of Leadership in Transforming Asia (pp. 91-108).
Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Collinson, D., 2017. Critical leadership studies: A response to Learmonth and
Morrell. Leadership. 13(3). pp.272-284.
Erden, P. and Otken, A.B., 2019. The Dark Side of Paternalistic Leadership: Employee
Discrimination and Nepotism. European Research Studies. 22(2). pp.154-180.
Haider, S., and et.al., 2018. Dark Side of Leadership: Employees' Job Stress & Deviant
Behaviors in Pharmaceutical Industry. International Journal of Pharmaceutical
Research & Allied Sciences. 7(2).
Harris, A. and Jones, M., 2018. The dark side of leadership and management.
Kılıç, M. and Günsel, A., 2019. The Dark Side of the Leadership: The Effects of Toxic Leaders
on Employees. European Journal of Social Sciences. 2(2). pp.51-56.
Loh, E., and et.al., 2016. Shining the light on the dark side of medical leadership–a qualitative
study in Australia. Leadership in Health Services.
Shek, D.T., Chung, P.P.Y. and Dou, D., 2019. The dark side of service leaders. Dark Side of
Organizational Behavior and Leadership, pp.126-145.
Simonet, D.V., and et.al., 2018. Dark-side personality trait interactions: Amplifying negative
predictions of leadership performance. Journal of Leadership & Organizational
Studies. 25(2). pp.233-250.
Online
The dark side of leadership. 2020. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.floridatechonline.com/blog/business/the-dark-side-of-leadership/ >