ABSTRACT
Chapter 5: Followers characterizes potential relationships between followers and toxic leaders. The chapter describes follower types who enable toxic leaders. Toxic enablers include toxic protectors, toxic buffers, and toxic handlers who facilitate toxic leaders through their actions to help them survive the adverse outcomes of their toxic leadership. The chapter also describes the damaging effects of toxic leaders on their followers. Oppressed followers suffer many personal and professional consequences, including damaged personal relationships, work–life conflict, higher turnover intention, decreased job satisfaction, lower morale, and decreased productivity. Chapter 5 discusses how toxic leaders affect their organizations and concludes with a description of the literature on follower upward influence.
