The dark side of absent leaders
When we talk about toxic leadership, we often focus on abusive behaviors. However, in a study on corporate psychopaths, we found that, as leaders, not only are they abusive, but they are also absent.
However, in a study on corporate psychopaths, we found that, as leaders, not only are they abusive, but they are also absent.
I didn’t expect to find a strong relationship between psychopathy and Laissez-Faire leadership style (absent leader), as very few experts have studied the negative impact of absent leadership style.
Laissez-faire leadership encompasses behaviors such as avoiding getting involved when critical issues arise, being absent when needed, avoiding making decisions, and delaying responding to urgent questions.
Some experts view Laissez-faire leadership as passive-aggressive, including failing to protect the employee in a risk-exposed environment and withholding vital information from employees.
Absent leadership can hide dark intentions
Passive-aggressive behaviors are a form of violence and control. A leader who fails to support employees, who is absent and blames employees for mistakes, and who controls the information that employees receive keeps employees in the dark and a state of constant stress.
There is an advantage in keeping employees in a state of distress/stress for a toxic leader. Indeed, when employees are stressed, they are not likely to confront the leaders, are not empowered, and are more easily manipulated.
Passive-aggressive leadership is another form of leadership abuse. However, few have given it the attention it deserves.
Absent leadership can lead to employee burnout
An absent leader cannot communicate objectives clearly and does not support their employees. Without support from their managers to help deal with the stress present in the workplace, many employees will develop burnout symptoms.
In one study, we found that absent leadership is associated with higher symptoms of employee psychological distress and job-stress-related presenteeism. Presenteeism is in effect when employees’ attention to their work is reduced because they are using coping resources to deal with stress on the job. Employees would not have to use these coping resources if they were in a safe work environment and had their manager’s support.
While many believe that Laissez-faire leadership may be a good leadership style to adopt, as the leader gives employees latitude, this is not the case.
In every study I ran on Laissez-faire leadership, this style was associated with higher levels of employee psychological distress, work-related stress, and turnover and lower levels of work motivation, job satisfaction, and engagement.
Regardless of employees’ autonomy and skills, they need a leader who offers them direction, support, resources, and recognition for their work. They need to feel safe, appreciated, and understood.
An absent leader cannot make a workplace safe.
What can be done to address absent leadership?
- Hire leaders who care about employees, who have the skills to listen, be empathetic, and act with integrity and transparency.
- Create a safe work culture where leader and employee behavior are aligned with the company’s values.
- Make it a priority to conduct leadership performance appraisals that consider management behaviors such as support, openness, listening, coaching, empathy, integrity, and leaders who are present when their team needs them.
- Conduct regular employee well-being surveys, including questions on leader support and other positive leadership behaviors.
Absent leadership is more detrimental than what most think. Behind the “I trust my team, so I don’t need to be there” image often lies a leader who cares more about their career ascension than their employees’ well-being.
Organizations need to understand the importance of present, supportive, and kind leaders.
Take care of yourself and the people around you. 💗
This is great stuff. It’s good to see writing and research on the damage that absent leaders can cause. I had a boss that I would describe his leadership style as “deadbeat dad” He was never around when you needed him and when he was around you wished he wasn’t.