Females and Toxic Leadership
Abstract
Is there a gender component in toxic leadership? To adequately answer this primary research question, several other secondary research questions must be addressed: What is the definition of toxic leadership?; What are the specific characteristics of toxic leadership?; Do these characteristics have a gender component to them?; What can be done to effectively identify, address, and reduce toxic leadership?; Once a leader has been identified or labeled as toxic, can he or she be rehabilitated?; Are there leadership styles that can be promoted to combat toxic leadership?; and Are the senior leaders in the military sending a clear message that they are not going to tolerate toxic leadership? Existing conceptions of toxic leadership fail to account for gender. The real-world significance of these conceptions is that female leaders who are labeled with the pejorative of being toxic leaders suffer unjustly. The author argues that the concept of toxic leadership has a gender component that is neglected and has no basis in theory. She sets forth the possibility that some female leaders are labeled as toxic leaders simply because they exhibit and practice traditionally celebrated masculine traits. She demonstrates the plausibility of her thesis by examining the experience of a female U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major. The thesis also examines leadership styles that are favorable for female leaders, and offers Transformational/Adaptive leadership as a style promising rehabilitative tools to combat toxic leadership. The thesis has significant impact for senior leadership.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 14, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA569737
Entities
People
- Naomi Carrington
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College