Destructive Leaders and Dysfunctional Organizations

Sometimes, leaders arrive in position of authority without the credentials to do the job.

"A certain degree of narcissism is perfectly natural and even healthy. A moderate measure of self-esteem contributes to positive behaviors such as assertiveness, confidence, and creativity, all desirable qualities for an individual in any walk of life, but particularly so for business leaders. At the other end of the spectrum, however, extreme narcissism is characterized by egotism, self-centeredness, grandiosity, lack of empathy, exploitation, exaggerated self-love, and failure to acknowledge boundaries. In this severe form, narcissism can do serious damage. This is especially true within an organization, where the combination of a leader's overly narcissistic disposition and his or her position of power can have devastating consequences." (Kets de Vries, 2006)

Destructive Leaders and Dysfunctional Organizations: A Therapeutic Approach
By Alan Goldman          
http://ebooks.cambridge.org/ebook.jsf?bid=CBO9780511805097