The alpha male boss seems to be part of corporate life. The strong leader is always in demand. Witness the popularity of the Donald Trump Apprentice TV series which sends out the wrong message on how companies should be run.
The trouble with Alpha Males is that the strengths can also turn into liabilities and destroy companies. Husband-and-wife executive coaching team Kate Ludeman and Eddie Erlandson say the stronger the positives, the more likely they are to morph into negatives, reports The Financial Times.
The positive-to-negative swings are shown in their 4 classifications of Alpha Male types.
Commanders are high achievers, but create fear and crush dissent.
Visionaries are inspiring enthusiasts who can fall out of touch with reality.
Strategists can be strong decision-makers but they can be remote and switched-off.
Executors know how to deliver and are great problem-solvers. But they can also micro-manage and have impossibly high standards.
Apart from creating organisations with high levels of turnover, illness, absenteeism and burnout, Alpha Male bosses can destroy companies and leave a trail of malfeasance because, as a rule, they don't tolerate checks and balances.
The list of Alpha Males includes Jeff Skilling, Bernie Ebbers, Dennis Kozlowski and Conrad Black.
Having a tough and determined person at the top can be important for business. But when that happens, it's even more important to have a strong board of independent-minded directors who aren't afraid of asking hard questions and who can ensure he doesn't fly out of control.
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