Dark Side of Leadership: A Cross-Cultural Compendium

Adebukola Oyewunmi is the founder of and lead trainer at Characom Leadership Consulting. An advocate of the bright side of leadership, she has facilitated notable local and international workshops on leadership effectiveness in the private and public sectors. She has years of experience working as a banking consultant in one of the United Kingdom’s major financial institutions. She holds master’s and doctorate degrees in strategic human resource management and industrial relations. Her research interests include leadership development, organisational psychology, and ethical behaviour. Her collaborations span Africa, Europe, and North and South America. She is a facilitator of Global Futures Literacy Network and has served as an assessor for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a programme funded by the United States Government. She is an associate editor and a member of the editorial board of two reputable international journals. She is an academic fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and currently lectures at the Teesside University International Business School, United Kingdom.Gill Owens is a highly experienced chartered psychologist with an impressive professional trajectory spanning over 40 years. Her extensive expertise encompasses both the private and public sectors, as well as higher education. Throughout her career, she has embarked on the successful launch, operation, and sale of businesses, underscoring her entrepreneurial flair while honing her robust business acumen. Her fascination with dark leadership stemmed from her encounters with senior organisational leaders who showcased a markedly distinct leadership style from her supportive approach. Her transition into academia provided the perfect platform for her to delve deeper into this area of interest, evolving it into a central theme in her research. Furthermore, she conducted engaging seminars with MBA students, integrating her practical insights to deliver interactive sessions. At the core of all her professional pursuits, she has consistently upheld the value of demonstrating kindness. This ethical and compassionate approach has not only underpinned her decision-making but also greatly informed her teaching and research endeavours.Ogechi Adeola is a professor of marketing and deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Kigali, Rwanda. She holds an adjunct professorship at Torrens University Australia. Her research has been published in top journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies, Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Business Research, Industrial Marketing Management, Psychology and Marketing, and International Marketing Review. Her co-authored papers won Best Paper Awards at international conferences from 2016 to 2019 consecutively, and she received the prestigious Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper in 2022. She was honoured with the Most Influential Women 2024 Sustainability Award by the World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD) for her contributions to women’s empowerment and sustainable development. In 2025, the International Hospitality Institute (IHI) recognised her among the 50 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality and Travel.

The Dark Side of Leadership: A Cross-Cultural Compendium offers a profound exploration of the complexities and challenges of leadership across different cultures. It provides invaluable insights into leadership's often overlooked negative aspects, making it a must-read for anyone looking to understand the full spectrum of leadership dynamics. The authors’ thorough research and engaging writing style make complex concepts accessible and thought-provoking. A truly enlightening read for both aspiring and seasoned leaders.Assad TavakoliW.T. Brown Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of EconomicsBroadwell College of Business and EconomicsFayetteville State University, North Carolina, United StatesPower often carries a destructive streak that eats away at organisational effectiveness. This book contributes a timely reminder especially as far-right leaders appear to be on the ascendancy in many parts of the world, casting long shadows of narcissism, hubris, corruption, nepotism, lack of empathy and Machiavellianism, issues which this book deals with in great detail. The book is an excellent compendium and reminder of the devastating effect of the dark side of leadership. It is a compelling read for leaders and all those interested in organisational progress.Felix MaringeProfessor of Higher EducationUniversity of Kigali, Rwanda

• THEME I: DARK SIDE LEADERS: WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO. Chapter 1: The Hunt for Prey: A Playbook of Psychopathic Leadership. Chapter 2: Unveiling the Dark Leadership in Star Wars. Chapter 3: Categorical Error and the Dark Side of Leadership. Chapter 4: Apparently Great Start – Evidentially Disastrous Finish: The Longitudinal Nature of Failure in Psychopathic Leadership. Chapter 5: Exploring the Shadows of Dark Side Leaders. THEME II: THE PROCESS OF DARK LEADERSHIP. Chapter 6: The Process of Dark Leadership: Reflections from a Norwegian Military Community of Practice. Chapter 7: Discursive Practices of Dark Side Leaders: Reflections from Pakistan and Colombia. Chapter 8: The Toxic Triangle of Leadership. Chapter 9: Ethical Behaviour Beyond Convergent Calculative Thinking: From Modern to Meaningful Leadership. Chapter 10: Leadership: Disruption and Influence. THEME III: THE CONTEXT OF DARK LEADERSHIP. Chapter 11: Dark Triad and Leadership: A Perspective on the Causes and Consequences in Family Business Environments. Chapter 12: Bending the Rules of the Game: Dark Entrepreneurship in a Capitalist System. Chapter 13: Voluntary Veils and Community Camouflage: Finding Darkness in United Kingdom’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector. Chapter 14: The Dark Side: A Philosophical Analysis of Leadership in Nigeria's Arts and Entertainment. Chapter 15: Does Culture Influence Dark Leadership Manifestation? A Hofstede Evaluation of Nigeria. Chapter 16: Culture and the Politics of Leadership: Insights from Iraqi-Kurdistan. Chapter 17: Unveiling the Unfelt Snakes: Understanding the Dark Side of Leadership in Asian Culture. Chapter 18: Toxic Leadership Across Cultures: A Bitter Pill to Swallow. THEME IV: CONTEMPORARY AND EMERGING ISSUES. Chapter 19: The Invisible Manager: The Dark Side of Digital Leadership in the Nordic Context. Chapter 20: My Boss is Horrible: A Cursory Social Media Content Analysis of Perceptions and Perspectives of the Dark Side of Leadership in the Workplace. Chapter 21: Combating Digital Manipulation: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Enterprise Leadership in China and the United Kingdom. THEME V: INTERVENTIONIST PARADIGMS. Chapter 22: Navigating the Dark Side of Leadership: Insights from Nigeria’s Public Sector. Chapter 23: Leadership and the Bankruptcy of Integrity. Chapter 24: Self-Awareness: A Path to the Bright Side of Leadership. Chapter 25: Strategic Interventions for Addressing Dark Side Leadership. Chapter 26: Afterword