ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the dark side of leadership. For several decades, leadership research and business schools have focused primarily on the positive or light side of leadership. For the most part, leaders have been portrayed as heroic, authentic, admirable, charismatic, ethical, visionary, and transformational. To date, there is scant empirical research on the dark or negative side of leadership. Nevertheless, there has been a growing realization and acknowledgment by scholars that the dark side of leadership is prevalent in many organizations today and that more research is necessary to fully grasp the impact of dark leaders on followers and organizations. This chapter presents the definition, causes, behaviors, and impact of dark leadership on organizations and followers. Suggestions are also provided to guide organizations how to deal with the dark side of leaders. The chapter concludes with lessons that can be learned from dark leaders and concludes with a few reflection questions.
