Leadership Failure - The subordinates perspective | Issam Ghazzawi | IBS Americas MasterClass Series

Summary

In his latest research, Issam Ghazzawi, Professor of Management at the University of La Verne, explores the dark side of leadership. His study examines the perceptions of subordinates regarding failed leadership, identifying key traits like negativity, micromanagement, and egocentrism as causes. Through semi-structured interviews with 43 managers, Ghazzawi reveals that poor leadership leads to negative consequences such as high turnover, stress, and low morale. His research emphasizes the need for better leadership training, careful selection, and creating supportive organizational cultures to mitigate these issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 Issam Ghazzawi, a professor of management at the University of La Verne, presents research on the dark side of leadership, focusing on the perception of failed leadership from the subordinates' point of view.
• 😀 The research explores the antecedents (causes) of failed leadership, the perception of subordinates about their leaders' behavior, and the consequences for both employees and organizations.
• 😀 Emotional intelligence and leadership traits play a key role in effective leadership, but failed leadership often stems from toxic behaviors and personality issues.
• 😀 Leadership traits, such as intelligence, self-confidence, and emotional maturity, are strongly connected to effective leadership, though situational factors can also play a role.
• 😀 The research was based on semi-structured interviews with 43 managers across different organizational levels, and the results were analyzed using JMP software.
• 😀 Managers' perceptions of failed leaders include negative, micromanaging, egocentric, hostile, and closed-minded behaviors, with 44% citing negativity and 40% mentioning micromanagement.
• 😀 59% of respondents identified personal traits, such as personality and lack of knowledge, as the primary cause of failed leadership behavior, while 26% blamed organizational culture and climate.
• 😀 Negative leadership behaviors have significant consequences on employees, including turnover intentions (67%), occupational stress (56%), lower job satisfaction (26%), and impaired performance (23%).
• 😀 Stress caused by toxic leadership affects employees' mental and physical well-being, with some individuals feeling miserable, insecure, and unmotivated both at work and in their personal lives.
• 😀 To address failed leadership, the research suggests awareness training, careful selection of leaders, personality testing, behavioral modeling, fostering a healthy culture, and utilizing executive coaching to improve leadership effectiveness.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Issam Ghazzawi's research?

Issam Ghazzawi's research focuses on the 'Leadership Failure in the Eyes of the Subordinates: Perception, Antecedents and Consequences'. It examines the dark side of leadership, specifically the perceptions of subordinates regarding their leaders' failures, the causes of such behavior, and the resulting consequences for both the individuals and the organization.

Why does Issam Ghazzawi focus on the 'dark side' of leadership?

While many researchers focus on successful leadership, Ghazzawi's research addresses the often-overlooked negative aspects of leadership, specifically the destructive and toxic behaviors of failed leaders. His aim is to understand what makes a leader toxic and how this affects the organization and its members.

How does emotional intelligence relate to effective leadership?

Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in effective leadership by helping leaders navigate relationships with their subordinates. It influences behavior, cooperation, and dominance, which are all emotionally driven. A leader with high emotional intelligence is more likely to foster positive relationships and successful organizational outcomes.

What were the main findings regarding the perceptions of failed leaders in Ghazzawi's research?

Ghazzawi's research found that subordinates perceive failed leaders as negative, critical, micromanaging, self-centered, hostile, and lacking in people skills. These leaders are also seen as rigid, close-minded, and disconnected from their teams, leading to poor relationships and low morale.

What are the key antecedents of failed leadership identified in the research?

The research identified personality factors as the most significant antecedents of failed leadership, with 47% of respondents attributing the failures to the leader's personal traits. Additionally, situational factors such as organizational culture and climate were also seen as contributing factors by 26% of respondents.

What are the consequences of failed leadership on employees and organizations?

The consequences of failed leadership include increased turnover intention and actual turnover (67% of respondents), high occupational stress (56%), lower job satisfaction (26%), impaired performance (23%), and lower morale (21%). These effects result in negative physical, emotional, and behavioral impacts on employees.

What are some specific consequences that employees face due to failed leadership?

Employees experiencing failed leadership reported stress, insecurity, and low morale. Some mentioned taking stress home, feeling unhappy and unmotivated, and constantly worrying about their future within the organization.

What does Issam Ghazzawi recommend to address failed leadership?

Ghazzawi recommends several strategies to mitigate failed leadership, including awareness training for managers, careful selection of leaders through personality testing, behavioral modeling training, fostering a safe and supportive organizational environment, and utilizing executive coaching for leaders in need of improvement.

What limitations did Ghazzawi acknowledge in his research?

Ghazzawi acknowledged limitations such as potential respondent bias, as some participants may have had difficulty objectively evaluating their leaders. He also noted that the sample size (43 people) and its geographic composition (primarily from Southern California) may limit the generalizability of the findings.

What are the implications of Ghazzawi's research for future leadership studies?

The research suggests that future studies should focus on the causes and consequences of failed leadership in different cultural and organizational contexts. Ghazzawi hopes to conduct similar research in various regions of the world to gain a broader understanding of leadership failures and their impacts.