Learning From Bad Leadership: MBA Students Reflect on Bad Leadership and Lessons Learned

Authors

  • David Conrad, Ed.D. Augsburg College 3415 Chalet View Lane Rochester, MN 55901
  • Susan Nash, Ed.D. Augsburg College 810 3rd Avenue SE Rochester, MN 55904

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18533/ijbsr.v2i6.145

Keywords:

Bad, Leadership, Lessons, Learning, Students, Perceptions

Abstract

An analysis of MBA students’ beliefs regarding learning from bad leadership was conducted. MBA students were surveyed to discover how they recognize bad leadership, what they have learned from the bad leadership they have observed, and how they would lead as a result. Findings revealed that bad leadership has significant impact on the students’ attitudes and behaviors. Students had a great deal to say about how bad leadership has negatively affected them, their coworkers, and their organization as a whole. Students appeared to be more motivated towards achieving positive outcomes when leaders led by example rather than by command and control techniques. Bad leadership had a high negative impact on individual decision-making and performance as well as on feelings of well-being. Finally, analysis of the data revealed that bad leadership causes an erosion of trust, resulting in decreased contributions to the collective work effort. Following the analysis are implications of the findings and recommendations for further study.

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Issue

Vol. 2 No. 6 (2012): November

Section

Article

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