Most leaders have a so-called ‘dark side’ – behavioural weaknesses that emerge when they feel under pressure at work. For example, some people get irritable or outright angry. Others withdraw and become less communicative. A few take greater risks.
Understanding the dark side is important for all of us. If we understand our personal weaknesses, we can find ways to mitigate against them. But understanding the dark side is especially important for organisations – as it is increasingly possible to interview and test for them with a view to keeping bad leaders from joining your organisation.
