Ashforth highlights the negative aspects of leadership, focusing on "petty tyrants" or leaders who employ a tyrannical management style that fosters a climate of fear within the workplace. The presence of such leadership styles, characterized by partial or intermittent negative reinforcement, can effectively instill a sense of fear and uncertainty among employees.
Tyrannical Leadership: Ashforth identified leaders known as petty tyrants, who manage with a tyrannical approach, resulting in a fearful workplace environment.
Consequences of Negative Reinforcement: Using intermittent negative reinforcement can lead to an atmosphere of doubt and fear, making the workplace intimidating for employees.
Bullying and Authoritarian Leadership: Studies show a direct correlation between workplace bullying and authoritarian leadership styles, which discourage open dialogue and make complaints seem pointless.
Impact on Employees: In public sector environments, the tolerance of bullying by management has led to a significant portion of employees considering leaving their jobs due to the unsafe climate created by such behaviors.
Cultural Impact on Performance: The reinforcement sensitivity theory examines how individual differences in response to reward, punishment, and motivation might influence workplace performance, suggesting that a culture of fear is detrimental.
Deming’s Principles: Contrary to W. Edwards Deming’s key principles for managerial effectiveness, a culture of fear in the workplace prevents employees from performing optimally for the company.
These insights underscore the importance of leadership styles that promote safety and openness at work, rather than fear and repression, to enhance overall business effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
Wahab (2023) Effectiveness of Psychological Safety on Employees Productivity
Panda (2022) The Dark Triad Personality on Leader’s Perspective
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