Toxic Bosses

We have experienced dark and difficult times before in our history-World Wars, the Depression, and pandemics, but the physical, political and economic health of nations is now overlaid with the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change. We live in a world fraught with ecological and social problems and political systems that diminish democracy. We have organizations that demean and dehumanize many of their employees, and an economic perspective that places material wealth and financial interests over social, ecological, and human interests. Such a system devalues what it means to be human, compromising the inherent dignity and worth of people who are not at the top, not to mention devaluing the worth of non-human living beings, including the Earth itself. Our world cries out for moral, ethical and wise leadership that recognizes and honors the dignity of all living beings, and makes decisions in the interest of society and the planet for now and the future. Looking at the state of the world today, one cannot help but wonder what we need to do to ensure a positive and peaceful future for humanity. How is it possible that knowledge and information have become so much more accessible to people, but we do not seem to have become anywiser? We continue to destroy our natural habitat despite ominous warnings of the planet becoming uninhabitable. We continue to be led by dictators and autocrats despite the many lessons from history of the incredible damage they can cause. We continue to allow without correction racial and ethnic injustice and increasing economic and income inequality. We continue to allow the amoral, unethical behaviors of our leaders (and their followers) with no, or few consequences. Even worse, we continue to recruit and promote into leadership positions narcissists, sociopaths and psychopaths. Unrestrained and unchecked, the result is the degradation of moral standards, ethical behavior and the decline of democracy. This book examines the connection between moral and ethical leaders and wisdom. Our current turbulent and dangerous times underscores the need to have wise leaders who demonstrate the highest standards of moral principles and ethical behavior. While all countries are in need of wise, moral and ethical leaders, nowhere does it have greater impact on the world than in the United States. This book is organized into three major sections. The first section looks at the ongoing problem of amoral, ethical and unethical leadership with case studies and examples and multiple perspectives. The second section examines what we mean ethical and wise leader behavior. The final section examines ethical and wise leadership, with suggestions on actions we can take at the organizational and individual level in dealing with amoral, immoral and unethical leaders, and how to develop further a culture of integrity, ethics and morality.