Leadership by Temper Tantrum

Leadership by temper tantrum may be an ineffective approach to managing people and teams in most settings. It typically involves a leader using anger, outbursts, or emotional manipulation to exert control or influence outcomes.

HOWEVER

There are some successful leaders who admit to adopting some temper tantrum leadership stance (e.g. Steve Job of Apple, Elon Musk of Tesla, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo).

Personally, I think leaders need to observe the environment they operate in, such as cultural settings and staff demographics to find the best way to drive their teams forward. Temper tantrums can be replaced by strong commanding mandate and bold strategic visionary approach.

Tantrums are usually associated with toddlers, not adults, because they involve reactions that are disproportionate to the circumstances and are specifically a result of wanting or needing something that the child can’t express with words.

Hence, this approach may not work in some work environment and my reasonings:

• Decreased Morale: Employees subjected to temper tantrums often feel demoralized, anxious, or fearful. This can lead to decreased motivation and productivity as employees may focus more on avoiding conflict than on their work.

• Erosion of Trust: Trust is a cornerstone of effective leadership. Temper tantrums erode trust between the leader and their team, as employees may perceive the leader as unpredictable, volatile, or unfair.

• Poor Decision-Making: Decisions made under the influence of anger or frustration are often impulsive and may not be well-thought-out. This can lead to long-term consequences for the organisation.

• High Turnover: Employees subjected to consistent outbursts may choose to leave the organisation, leading to higher turnover rates and increased costs associated with recruiting and training new staff.
  

On the contrary...

Effective Leadership Alternatives

• Emotional Intelligence: Effective leaders possess emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills. They manage their emotions and reactions constructively, even in challenging situations.

• Clear Communication: Leaders should communicate clearly and respectfully with their team members. Clear expectations and feedback can prevent misunderstandings and reduce the likelihood of emotional reactions.

• Conflict Resolution Skills: Leaders should develop skills in conflict resolution and mediation. They should encourage open dialogue and resolve disputes calmly and fairly, fostering a positive work environment.

• Lead by Example: Leaders should model the behavior they expect from their team members. Demonstrating professionalism, patience, and resilience sets a positive tone and encourages similar behavior in others.

• Seek Feedback and Learning: Effective leaders continuously seek feedback from their team and actively work on improving their leadership skills. This includes learning from mistakes and seeking mentorship or coaching when needed.

• Create a Supportive Environment: Leaders should create a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and safe to express their opinions and concerns.

Demonstrating professionalism, patience, and resilience sets a positive tone and encourages similar behaviour in others.

What About Dealing with Leaders or Peers with Temper Tantrums?

All of us have encountered volatile leaders – or ones who’ve led by tempter tantrum. How did their behavior impact your performance or the performance of your organisation?

Dealing with a leader who throws tantrums requires patience, diplomacy, and a commitment to maintaining a positive work environment. By approaching the situation calmly and professionally, you can often mitigate the impact of their behaviour and foster a more productive team dynamic.

While you cannot control how those around you act, you can control what you tolerate. You can also control how you react. Successful organisations and individuals have no time for people who allow anger to rule their thoughts and behaviours.

Similarly, handling colleagues who throw tantrums requires patience and empathy. By approaching the situation calmly and professionally, you can often diffuse tensions and work towards constructive resolutions.