Abstract
Destructive leadership, or toxic leadership, is known to have a damaging effect on subordinate members of the armed forces. In the military, toxic leaders are those who engender low levels of confidence, torment, overwork, and micromanage their units, inflict undue stress, and repeatedly violate their soldiers’ trust (Elle, 2012; Reed, 2004). Toxic leadership tends to undermine discipline, morale, and motivation and has a highly divisive effect on unit cohesion. The presence of toxic leadership within the army has recently been confirmed by a survey indicated at least 20 percent of officers and NCOs have worked for a toxic leader ( ...
