#leadfromyoursoul #abundancemindset #mindsetmatters #successmindset#authenticleadership #shadowself #evilleadership
In addition to the five internal monsters described by Parker Palmer, which I discussed in my previous article “ Are You Stuck Feeling Stuck,” Johnson Craig identified the 6th monster. He used the word evil to refer to the other “monsters lurking in leaders and followers alike- jealousy, envy, rage,” for it refers to a force far darker and more powerful than fear and self-doubt. In “Simple Steps to Becoming a Toxic Leader,” I refer to Kellerman’s classification of bad leaders as he describes how evil leaders “commit atrocities.
If we can understand evil a little better, maybe, we can mitigate its effects or lessen its prevalence. However, we cannot eliminate evil entirely since it is neither moral, religious, or intellectual but existential in nature. The concept of evil is emotionally charged. Evil destroys morale, physical and emotional well-being, relationships, organizations, and communities.
Research suggests that dark personality traits or the -dark triad- narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy may be one of the causes of evil leadership. For example, a study of 1200 workers from various industries concluded that “as the levels of psychopathy and narcissism increased among leaders, so too did the prevalence of workplace bullying, counterproductive work behavior, job satisfaction, psychological distress, and depression among subordinate employees.”[4]
Evil is defined as something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity. It holds powerful emotional connotations. The Swiss psychologist Carl Jung coined the phrase ‘shadow self’ to describe the subconscious aspects of our personality that our conscious ego does not want to identify in itself.
Jung wrote, “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.” Perhaps it’s the extreme form of the enormous ego at its deepest and darkest hour. It inflicts pain and destruction and causes much suffering.
Fred Johnson describes six faces of evil to help us understand and combat this unnatural demon.[3]
Evil as Dreadful Pleasure
As the title implies, some commit evil actions to gain pleasure. It gives them a sense of control that helps them deal with their inner darkness. C. Fred Alfred, a political science University professor, conducted the research study he documented in his book “What Evil Means to Us.” He interviewed 60 participants, including working people, prisoners, and college students explore how people experience evil. Alfred argues, “evil is about nothingness- not just the nothingness we seek but the nothingness we dread… The dread of bound business and all that goes with it- loss of self, loss of meaning, loss of history, and loss of connection to the world itself.” [1]
Alfred defined evil as “an experience of dread almost beyond words… And evil is an attempt to master the experience by inflicting it onto others.” However, his goal was not to get a definition of evil but to uncover how experience affects meaning. He concluded that evil is experienced as a combination of dread and pleasure.
Evil can also be an attempt to fill the void inside. Those who turn to evil do not find fulfillment in ordinary everyday happenings. For example, psychopaths have a high stimulation threshold and engage in sensation-seeking behavior. They seek sensation in violent criminal acts. “Psychopathy reflects the following characteristics: impulsivity, a lack of guilt and remorse, pathological lying and manipulativeness, and the continual willingness to violate social norms.” [2] Other diagnostic features include superficial charm, high intelligence, poor judgment, and in capacity for love which makes for an alluring yet dangerous combination.
The Queer Story of Theodore Bundy
Bundy was a handsome young man who graduated high school and entered college. He worked as a volunteer at the suicide hotline and data the society girl. An important turning point for him was when his fiancée canceled their engagement. He was devastated and began to stalk women on the street. By impersonating a student or security guard and sometimes requesting assistance with his arm in a sling, he murdered 14 women, mostly college students, who resembled his ex-finance [2].
As awful as it may seem for perpetrators, evil is an exciting pastime that stimulates a rush of adrenaline and pleasure. According to Jung, every human being has a shadow self, an evil face, and leaders can come to grips with evil through exploring that aspect of the human psyche. A vital step to conquering evil as pleasure is to reflect on our motivations, especially during challenging times when our perception collapses and fear plays tricks on our minds. We are more likely to project those dreadful feelings onto others.
Pause and inquire:
How am I projecting my insecurities onto others?
Have you ever felt tempted to hurt others to fill the emptiness inside?
Reach out and connect!
I will help you peel off the layers and unearth the fear lurking in the deepest recesses of your mind so that you can truly let go of the old to receive the abundance and blessings of the present moment. To work with me in developing a leadership roadmap for you and your team, book a free strategy call at www.drayaakkari.com. Elevating your leadership is not an easy feat, which is where I come in. I help you uncover your Why, build resilience, attract abundance, create effortless success, and design a leadership roadmap specific to your needs. I provide you with accountability, check-ins, evidenced-based coaching, and professional support from a certified leadership coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation, an organizational leadership specialist, and an emotional resilience mentor and trainer.
Come with me; let’s lead together!
I empower busy and ambitious executives, business owners, and professionals to go from existing to living so they can gain clarity on their purpose, unlock their potential, and elevate their leadership. I am a doctor and a certified leadership coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation; I have earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and am a certified emotional resilience mentor and trainer. In addition, I have had the pleasure of establishing coaching relationships with leaders from 20 different organizations.
References
1. Alfred, C. F. (1997). What evil means to us. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
2. Fulero, S. M., & Wrightsman, L. S. (2005). Forensic psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
3. Johnson, C. E. (2015). Meeting the ethical challenges of leadership: Casting light or shadow. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
4. Phillips, A. (2017, Jan 17). Toxic bosses in the workplace. Retrieved from Alliance Manchester Business School: https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/original-thinking-applied/original-thinkers/toxic-bosses-in-the-workplace/
