Issue 217, June 17, 2025
When employees hear their manager's footsteps approaching, their palms shouldn't start sweating. When a team meeting is called, hearts shouldn't race with dread. Yet across organizations worldwide, this is exactly what's happening. A recent study from Staffing Industry Analysts found that 75% of workers have left a job specifically to escape a toxic boss. The number one driver of workplace toxicity? Fear-based leadership.
This begs the question, why are we afraid? Why do those who are led by fear cave into the fearmongers? Why do institutions and organizations with leaders who lead by fear appear to succeed? As a species, we are biologically programmed to succeed and survive. At 2040, we have explored "the survival of the fittest" as it relates to, and manifests in organizations with the conclusion that our survival rate increases when there is collaboration and cooperation. So, how does that explain the growth of a workplace and societal culture built on fear a…
