Understanding Toxic Leadership and Its Impact on Teams
In the professional world, most of us can relate to having encountered a toxic leader—a boss who demands “putting on the team shirt” at best, or psychologically abuses subordinates at worst. The quality of leadership directly reflects on a team, and poor management often results in continuous staff turnover, tarnishing an organization’s image and revealing a lack of proper corporate culture.
Fortunately, companies are increasingly taking action against severe employee complaints about their leaders. In some cases, this leads to the leader’s dismissal, prompting the organization to address and rectify the damage caused. Meanwhile, former leaders can choose between change or remaining stagnant; however, experts suggest three steps to overcome toxic leadership:
- Self-reflection. Introspection is crucial to avoid repeating past mistakes, which were likely inherited from others. It often takes a significant event, like termination, to prompt this self-assessment.
- Seeking help. This transformation requires professional support, such as psychological assistance, which aids in managing emotions and fostering emotional intelligence and team connection.
- Adaptation. Authoritarian and imposing management styles from the past are no longer effective. Adapting to current industry trends and motivations of new generations is essential.
7 Movies Showcasing Toxic Leadership
Whether you’re dealing with a toxic boss or recognize yourself as a flawed leader, these films offer entertainment and introspection:
- The Apprentice (2024)
Set in 1970s New York, this film follows a young Donald Trump as he attempts to break free from his father’s shadow and succeed in the real estate sector. He meets Roy Cohn, a political advisor who teaches him manipulation tactics, shaping the character we know today.
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Jordan Belfort, a young New York stockbroker who founded the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont under 20, develops habits of excess and corruption.
- The Social Network (2010)
Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, creates the social network that becomes Facebook but faces accusations from co-founders and siblings claiming the idea was theirs.
- Steve Jobs (2015)
This biographical drama chronicles the professional and personal life of Steve Jobs, Apple’s founder, who created the Macintosh in 1984. After being fired from his own company in 1988, Jobs’ determination led him back to revolutionize the industry with the iMac a decade later.
- The Big Short (2015)
Four shrewd investors attempt to profit from the global economic crisis beginning in 2008, but their risky decisions lead them down the darkest corners of the economy.
- BlackBerry (2023)
This film depicts the remarkable rise and tragic fall of BlackBerry, once the world’s first smartphone, and how it brought down massive corporations facing fierce competition from Silicon Valley.
- House of Cards (2013–2018)
Bonus: This series portrays Frank Underwood, a ruthless politician plotting revenge against those who betrayed him.
Source: El Empresario
