Experts say toxic managers remain common across industries and hierarchies, and advise employees on coping strategies.
Key takeaways
- Widespread issue: Toxic bosses appear in both Spanish and foreign firms, at all levels.
- Leadership decline: Authoritarian styles thrive where hierarchy dominates, despite overall management improvements.
- Dark triad rise: Crises boost leaders with narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellian traits, known as the dark triad.
- Behavioral signs: Such managers display aggression, entitlement and prioritize personal ambition.
- Real‑world examples: Public figures and tech CEOs are cited as illustrations of the trend.
Prevalence of toxic management
Santiago Álvarez de Mon, a leadership professor at IESE Business School, notes that authoritarian and abusive supervisors are found throughout organizational pyramids and across sectors. He adds that while management practices have improved, environments with strong hierarchical culture still foster toxic behavior.
Impact of the dark triad during crises
Laura Guillén, a professor at Esade, links the current wave of populism to an increase in leaders who exhibit high levels of narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. She says such individuals exploit uncertainty, often intensifying chaos to expand their power.