Throughout history, leaders have relied on fear, intimidation, and punishment to compel obedience. But does dominance actually sustain power? In today’s episode, we explore the paradox of coercive leadership: why it works in moments of crisis yet almost always collapses over time.
We’ll talk about the hidden costs of fear-based leadership, why dominance is so tempting to executives under pressure, and how business leaders can avoid its most dangerous traps.
Don’t settle for short-term obedience fueled by fear. Start cultivating the kind of authority that earns respect, unlocks innovation, and sustains long-term performance in your organization.
In this episode:
Dominance in leadership & its evolutionary roots
Why dominance works
Fragility of fear-based leadership
The human side of dominance: China’s unifications
- Why leaders fall back to dominance despite its costs
