Destructive Leadership in the Workplace and Its Consequences

via Coursera

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

14 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

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This course provides a comprehensive exploration of destructive leadership in the workplace, examining the behaviors, antecedents, and organizational consequences that shape toxic environments. It highlights how harmful leadership affects employee well-being, team performance, and company culture. Learners will develop practical strategies to recognize destructive patterns and implement interventions that foster healthier workplaces. What sets this course apart is its structured approach, combining evidence-based frameworks with real-life organizational examples. Participants gain skills to diagnose destructive behaviors, assess workplace culture, and apply effective interventions to reduce harm. Ideal for organizational leaders, managers, HR professionals, and employees, this course requires a foundational understanding of leadership and organizational behavior. Anyone seeking to recognize toxic leadership patterns, enhance team performance, and foster a constructive workplace culture will benefit from its insights. By the end of the course, learners will be able to identify destructive leadership behaviors, apply diagnostics to evaluate organizational issues, and implement interventions to repair and improve workplace culture. Copyright ©2021 by Sage Publications Limited. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. Published by Sage Publications Limited, London. Used by arrangement with Sage Publications Limited.

Syllabus

Introduction

This module explores the concept of destructive leadership, examining its various forms such as abusive supervision and toxic leadership. Learners will gain foundational knowledge about the characteristics and impact of negative leadership behaviors in organizational settings.

Destructive leadership as a wicked problem

This module explores the complex phenomenon of destructive leadership, examining its psychological impacts, the role of dark triad personality traits, and the organizational and legal challenges it presents. Learners will gain insights into recognizing destructive behaviors, understanding their enablers, and evaluating effective response strategies for organizations.

Antecedents to destructive leadership

This module explores the psychological and behavioral factors that contribute to destructive leadership, focusing on dark side personality traits, the desire for independence, and the role of self-regulation. Learners will gain insights into trait activation theory and practical strategies for leadership development.

The impact of destructive leadership

This module explores the far-reaching consequences of destructive leadership on individuals, teams, and organizations. Learners will investigate how negative leadership behaviors affect workplace culture, employee wellbeing, team dynamics, and even family life. Practical insights are provided to help recognize and address these detrimental impacts.

Toxic environments: The role of culture

This module explores how variations in organisational culture can foster or inhibit destructive leadership behaviors. Learners will investigate the influence of cultural heterogeneity, leadership styles, and ethical systems on workplace toxicity. By understanding these dynamics, participants will be better equipped to recognize and address harmful environments.

Organisational and employee silence

This module explores the dynamics of employee and organisational silence, particularly in the context of destructive leadership and national culture. Learners will examine the causes and consequences of silence, including fear of retaliation and cultural norms, and investigate strategies to encourage open communication and ethical leadership.

Consequences of destructive leadership for employees

This module explores the multifaceted impact of destructive leadership on employees, including emotional, psychological, and physical consequences. Learners will examine how individuals and their co-workers respond to harmful leadership behaviors and discover practical strategies for mitigating negative effects in the workplace.

Follower coping with destructive leadership

This module explores how individuals respond to destructive leadership, highlighting both effective and ineffective coping strategies. Learners will examine the importance of social support and the development of resiliency to mitigate negative workplace outcomes. By the end, participants will understand key frameworks for coping and how to foster resilience in challenging environments.

Organizational diagnostics and interventions

This module explores methods for diagnosing and addressing destructive leadership within organizations. Learners will examine assessment tools such as 360-degree feedback and review organizational strategies and legal responsibilities for promoting employee wellbeing. Practical interventions and preventative measures are discussed to help create healthier workplace environments.

Practical implications for leadership development programmes

This module explores how leadership development programmes can enhance self-awareness, self-management, and ethical leadership practices. Learners will examine evidence-based interventions, review a real-world case study, and discover the role of coaching in translating learning into effective workplace behaviors.

Practical implications for follower interventions

This module examines evidence-based strategies that followers can use to address and mitigate the effects of destructive leadership in organizations. Learners will explore resilience-building techniques from positive psychology, review real-world case studies, and discover restorative practices like workplace conferencing to promote organizational health.

Repairing the damage caused by destructive leadership

This module explores the impact of destructive leadership and introduces restorative approaches, such as workplace conferencing, to address and repair harm in organizations. Learners will analyze real-world case studies to understand when and how restorative practices can be effectively implemented. The module also examines the limitations of traditional grievance processes and highlights strategies for promoting accountability and healing.

Destructive leadership: Future directions for research and practice

This module synthesizes key insights on destructive leadership, highlighting practical implications and emerging areas for future research. Learners will reflect on multi-level perspectives and consider actionable strategies for addressing destructive behaviors in organizations.

References

This module introduces key academic sources related to destructive leadership behaviors and organizational silence within educational and management contexts. Learners will explore foundational research and gain insights into the prevalence and impact of these phenomena. The readings provide a basis for understanding how negative leadership and communication barriers affect organizations.