Bad leadership drags down people and organizations. No one wants to work for a bad leader, and no one aspires to be one.

Barbara Kellerman is a professor of leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. In her book “Bad Leadership: What It Is, How It Happens, Why It Matters” she describes seven primary types of bad leaders.

1. Incompetent
2. Rigid
3. Intemperate
4. Callous
5. Corrupt
6. Insular
7. Evil

While Kellerman’s work focuses on public leadership, her work is applicable to leadership in all domains.

Leaders get most of Kellerman’s attention, but she points out that non-leaders have agency, too. After all, all leaders need followers, and that includes bad leaders.

“Followers are every bit as important to leadership as are leaders,” she said in an interview. “You can’t have bad leadership without having bad leaders and bad followers.”

Recognizing and better understanding bad leadership is the first step toward positive change in our teams, organizations, and institutions.

Here are quotes about each of Kellerman’s 7 bad leadership types.

#1: Incompetence

“Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.”

Napolean Bonaparte

This is also known as Hanlon’s Razor, and because people are, well, people it comes in handy in all kinds of situations.

The best response to an incompetent leader is compassion. They do not wake up each day determined to make people miserable. Still, they often do.

If an incompetent leader isn’t improving over time, leaving can be the best option.

#2: Rigidity

“The less he understands something, the more firmly he believes in it.”

Wilhelm Reich

The quote on the perils of authoritarianism describes the propensity of people to fall prey to belief systems and sensational ideas without thinking them through fully.

Rigid leaders are inflexible and unyielding. While they may be competent, they cannot adapt to new ideas, new information, or changing times.

Rigidity is often based on fear. It creates a sense of control in the face of chaos and instability.

#3: Intemperance

“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

Marcus Aurelius

An intemperate leader lacks self-control. They are enabled by the people surrounding them, who are unwilling or unable to intervene.

Intemperate leaders fail to delineate what is firmly in their control and what is outside it. Their emotional states fall into the former category. External events fall into the latter.

#4: Callousness

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.”

Kent M. Keith

A callous leader is uncaring and unkind. They ignore the needs, wants, and wishes of most members of the team.

#5: Corruption

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet.”

Mahatma Gandhi

The corrupt leader lies, cheats, or steals. They put their interests before others.

There is, of course, rampant corruption, such as a government official stealing public funds. But if we consider a broader definition of corruption then it begins to look more common. Corruption undermines the authority of the leader and warps organizational culture.

#6: Insularity

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

Rosalynn Carter

An insular leader disregards the health and welfare of those outside the group or organization for which they are directly responsible. Basically, they look out for their tribe, their people, and leave everyone else on their own.

#7: Evil

“If you want to find out what a man is to the bottom, give him power.”

Robert Ingersoll, describing Abraham Lincoln

The last type of bad leadership is straight-up evil. Ultimately, people who shouldn’t be anywhere near power and responsibility end up with abundant amounts of it and use it to devastating ends.

Another favorite quote of mine is from author Robert Caro. “Power doesn’t always corrupt. But power always reveals.” Responsibility exposes the true character of a person.