Shadow CastersWe are all troubled by past events and need to determine the causes. We need to answer the question of “WHY”

Coming up with explanations provides a measure of comfort and control. We can put the Event behind us and move on. We are better equipped to prevent it from happening Again.

Unhealthy motivationsThere are internal enemies within leaders that can produce unethical behavior.

1. Insecurity – many leaders are deeply insecure who mask their inner doubts Use followers to serve their selfish needs

2. Battleground Mentality - use military images to carrying out tasks, Wins and Losses, Allies and Enemies Can be counter productive

Shadow Casters3. Functional Atheism - leaders belief that they have the ultimate responsibility for

everything that happens in the organization. Creates a high stress environment resulting in broken relationships, burnout, workaholism

4. Fear – fear of chaos causes leaders to stifle dissent and innovation. Emphasis isplaced on rules and procedures instead of creativity. Leaders will consolidate their power instead of sharing it with followers

5. Denying Death - Don’t want to accept the fact a project or program is no longeruseful. Fear of negative evaluation and public failure

6. Evil – Some people are driven by a force more powerful than anxiety or fear. they have a desire to eliminate anything is a threat

Shadow CastersExperts have concluded that the seemingly insatiable desires of CEO’s has less to do withmoney and more to do with the following

Poor Self Image – Many CEO’s have low self esteem and want to put humble pasts behind them. Make up for their feelings of inadequacy by building monuments to themselves

“I Deserve It” myth – Many believe that they should get all the credit for the business’ success.

Unchecked fantasies – there is no one who reins in the ego, so many feel freeto what they want, no matter how outrageous

Society’s Blessing – the message has been sent that they can do what they wantas long as they are producing good results. Media has fueled this belief by makingthem celebrities

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Competitiveness Gone Awry – CEO’s compete with each other for salaries and perks

Lonesome Soldier Syndrome – They find it hard to make friends, so they buy and doexpensive things to take place of relationships

Boredom – Many younger CEO’s feel they have peaked in career, so they try to come upnew challenges

Power Corrupts – lose sense of what is rightfully theirs and what is not.

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SelfishnessA great deal of destructive leadership is driven by self centeredness. Self

centered leaders are proud of themselves and their accomplishments. They lack empathyfor others and cant see other point of view or learn from their followers. They are too important to do “little things” so they hire someone to handle those tasks. They focus on defending their turf and maintaining their status instead of cooperating with other groups.They are ego driven so they ignore creative ideas and valuable data that comes from out-side their circle of influence.

GreedAnother hallmark of self-oriented leaders. They are driven to earn more and

accumulate more perks. They focus making numbers. They benefit from process of reaching these financial goals. Few others benefit at the expense of this.

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NarcissismPeople who are self absorbed . They like attention and feel entitled to their power

and positions. They also have an unrealistic sense of what they have accomplished. Most leaders who are narcissistic engage in wide range of unethical behaviors . They claim special privileges, demand obedience, abuse their power for personal needs, ignore the welfare of others, and have an autocratic style of leading. Narcissists put everything at riskbecause their dreams and visions are unrealistic.

Look up the following people and answer the following questions:

1. Who is the person?2. What did they do for a living?3. What unethical behavior were they involved? 4. What unethical motivations are involved

with each person?

L. Dennis Kozlowski John RigasMartha Stewart Ferdinand MarcosBernie Ebbers Bernard Madoff

Shadow Casters- followers

Follower MotivationsFollowers have a deep-seated psychological needs and fears that make them seek

leaders. Sometime this can lead us toward good leaders but it can also drive some people totoxic leaders.

Reasons:1. A Need for Parent Figures- as adults we may look for other authority figures to

meet our needs. If we have not resolved issues with our parents, we are likely to similar issues with our leaders. If we have negative role models we are often seeking out similar leaders as adults

2. Exchanging Freedom for Security – Freedom allows people to be themselves but can sometimes cause a feeling of isolation. Insecure followers often give up freedom in order to join or follow unethical leaders

Shadow Casters- followers3. The Need to Feel Chosen- feeling special is a powerful motivation. Bad leaderstake advantage of this by convincing followers that they have a part in a uniqueorganization or cause. Joining with these type of leaders gives followers a feeling of victory and glory

4. The Need for Community- the need to belong and feel special. Group membership provides security and meaning to suppress those individual fears. People will sacrifice a great deal to maintain group. They will endure abuse from leaders , obey unethical orders, accept lower pay, etc.

5. Fear of Ostracism, Isolation, Social Death – speaking out vs. unethical leader ororganization can bring ostracism that keeps followers from speaking out. If they go public with information, they will almost certainly receive some type of hostilereaction from other people in the group or organization.

6. Sense of Personal Weakness and Powerlessness – followers will find it intimidating to challenge a bad leader. Instead they try to adapt or change themselves. They don’t realize that speaking out might also empower others to dothe same. Toxic leaders play on follower fears by isolating dissenters rewardingbackers. They reinforce powerful images to support their cause.