Title: Overcoming Toxic Leadership: An Integrated Framework for Organizational Recovery and Associate Retention
Author(s) : Bryan Hughes
In the context of leadership evaluation and toxic personalities, much of the existing literature serves to review the characteristics and traits associated with toxic leadership. However, few studies explore the conducive conditions associated to support these individuals; and still fewer studies provide insight to how leadership and others may be empowered to overcome and restore trust and organizational culture. This qualitative case study will seek to identify the best-practices in culture recovery and associate retention where a toxic leader has existed in the organization; as well as methods to avoid the continued support of leaders who exhibit toxic or destructive behaviors, and recognizing the followers who are susceptible to them. The study will review the toxic leadership actions and activities, the follower actions, and the organizational factors found in these circumstances with the central question: What are the influencers that affect associate retention where a toxic leader has existed, and what steps can organizations proactively act upon to positively influence associate retention?