Destructive Leadership

According to the authors of the textbook, the base rate of managerial incompetence is estimated to be 50 to 75 percent. This means that a majority of people in positions of authority have difficulties getting a group of people to work effectively together or get results.

- What do you think about this percentage estimate of incompetent managers? For example, based on your experience and observations is it too high or too low, and why?

- Think about one particular ineffective leader you have worked or played for. What dark-side traits (as described in the text) did this leader possess that caused him or her to be ineffective?

- Surely you have no dark-side traits (or perhaps you do). Nonetheless, managerial and leadership incompetence is not solely due to dark-side traits. How would you as a leader get feedback on your own performance and traits to help you become a more effective leader? Note: the textbook deals with this topic in several places. Merely stating that you would seek feedback is insufficient.