Toxic leadership ‘fuelling’ Australian businesses as one in three inadvertently lead with fear, causing $2.3 billion productivity loss

Expert urges leaders to acknowledge the subtle yet corrosive ways fear manifests: reducing performance, creating friction in interactions and diminishing psychological safety in work environments.

People can be motivated by a range of emotions, and a key one is driving corporate managers in today’s workplaces — fear.

A new study conducted and released today by Margot Faraci, a leading management expert and prominent senior leader in Australia with over 20 years experience at Macquarie Bank, NAB, CBA and more, shows toxic leadership is fuelling thousands of Australian businesses, with one in three (27%) harbouring unconscious fear.

A third of corporate managers are primarily motivated by fear, creating less efficient and less psychologically safe work environments that cost $2.3 billion annually in lost productivity. It’s a matter that goes beyond statistics; it touches the very core of leadership dynamics.

Fearful leaders in Australia lose an estimated $26,263 in a year (based on their salary and estimated hours lost), equaling a $2.3 billion cost in productivity across Australia.

Concerningly, seven in 10 (69%) of managers firmly believe stress and fear can be used as a positive or motivational tool, despite acknowledging its adverse effects on performance, well-being, and company culture.

The findings are part of a global study by Margot Faraci which analysed the leadership behaviours of 2,500 managers in Australia, the UK, and US, in order to map and uncover unconscious fear in leadership. The challenge is that thousands of leaders are often unaware they’re leading with fear or coming from a fearful response.

Expert urges leaders to acknowledge the subtle yet corrosive ways fear manifests: reducing performance, creating friction in interactions and diminishing psychological safety in work environments.

Fearful leadership isn’t just shouting or aggressive behaviour, it’s avoidance, complacency, decision fatigue, hesitancy to express viewpoints, fear of letting people down, micromanagement, reluctance to provide feedback, not creating space for others to speak up, holding back growth opportunities from others, and more.

Fearful leadership often stems from inexperience and low self-confidence, leading to increased stress, fatigue, and compromised decision-making. It’s also often attributed to past experiences, creating an ongoing cycle of leadership driven by fear.

Key findings also include:

• 69% of fearful leaders in Australia firmly believe that stress can be positively harnessed in workplaces
• 87% of fearful leaders in Australia regularly witness declines in team productivity due to toxic leadership
• While the vast majority of leaders offer guidance and learning opportunities, fearful leaders are significantly more likely to either be fully hands-on or hands-off when it comes to trusting their direct reports.
• Half (49%) of fearful leaders in Australia struggle with decision fatigue
• Nearly two in five (38%) of fearful leaders regularly witness declines in team morale, half (51%) are unhappy with their job, and a quarter (23%) say workplace relationships are strained
• A third (36%) of fearful leaders admit how showing compassion in the workplace can positively impact company culture, and nearly half (42%) admit it will positively impact productivity, yet fail to do so
• Fearful leaders tend to shift the blame, believing management is at fault for declining productivity, largely due to micromanagement and lack of communication

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Murray Cod Fishing Season Opens – Friday, 1 December

Christmas has come early for Murray Cod anglers, as the season opens on Friday 1 December 2023, following the annual three-month breeding closure.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Deputy Director General Fisheries Sean Sloan said, Murray Cod are Australia’s largest freshwater fish and an icon of our inland waterways, so there is no doubt that many anglers will be excited about the new fishing season opening this Friday.

“Now that the Murray Cod have completed their breeding over the three-month fishing closure, we’re expecting plenty of anglers to enjoy spending some time fishing for this iconic native species,” Mr Sloan said.

“Record numbers of Murray Cod produced and stocked during the 2022/23 season has helped bolster populations in NSW lakes and rivers after years of drought, bushfires and floods.

“More than 1.28 million Murray Cod were stocked into waterways across inland NSW during the 2022/23 stocking season.

“This amazing achievement by our flagship Narrandera native fish hatchery is only the beginning, with solid numbers of juvenile Murray Cod currently in the hatchery pointing to a bumper year of production and stocking set to commence for the new season from 30 November.”

With the Murray Cod season commencing this Friday, and a big summer of fishing expected, NSW DPI Fisheries Officers will be out on the water to ensure that recreational fishers adhere to the bag and size limits along with all other fishing rules that apply.

Murray Cod.

“Fisheries Officers patrolling during the annual three-month closure have said that anglers have respected the closure during this period,” Mr Sloan said.

“Now that the season is underway again for another year, we ask all fishers to continue doing the right thing to ensure we protect, conserve and improve our fisheries resources for future generations.

“A daily bag limit of two Murray Cod per person and a total possession limit of four applies when fishing in any inland waters.

“Fishers are required to release Murray Cod which are smaller than 55cm, or bigger than 75cm, with the least possible harm.

“I encourage the public to report suspected illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online form located on NSW DPI Fisheries website here”

The NSW Recreational Fishing Freshwater Fishing Guide is available on the DPI website from NSW DPI offices and most places where NSW recreational fishing licenses are sold.

Production of native fish for stocking at the Narrandera facility is supported with funding from NSW DPI and the Recreational Fishing Trusts.

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Future farmer wins #AgDayAU photo competition

An image capturing a determined toddler trying to help feed the rams has been awarded first prize in the 2023 National Agriculture Day photo and video competition.

Belinda Dimarzio-Bryan’s photo of her little helper caught the judges’ attention for encapsulating this year’s theme #GrowYouGoodThing.

National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said the judges had a tough job with the competition attracting almost 500 entries.

“What’s exciting about this competition is there are no rules on ages or abilities and that opens the floor to some candid and unplanned imagery.

Storm Above Harvest

“There are endless moments in farming that you simply cannot plan, like a brewing storm, an animal’s expression or the way the light hits a paddock.

“These moments are some of the reasons why farmers do what they do, we really do have the best offices in the world.”

The NFF partnered with Syngenta for the competition, with the agricultural company providing $5,000 to be shared between six winners.

Syngenta Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Paul Luxton, said the diversity in this year’s entries was outstanding, providing a snapshot into the different faces, landscapes and produce behind Australian agriculture.

Little Helper

“Without doubt, Australian farming is a special industry and imagery is one of the best ways we can share it with all Australians, so they can come on a journey with us and better understand where their food and fibre comes from.”

National Agriculture Day – or #AgDayAU – is held on the third Friday of November each year.

2023 #AgDayAU Photo & Video Competition Winners 

• First place: Little Helper
  Photographer: Belinda Dimarzio-Bryan
• Second place: Grow You Good Thing (video)
  Photographer: Merri-May Gill
• Runner Up: Working the Table
  Photographer: Kylie Fuller
• Runner Up: Storm Above, Harvest Below
  Photographer: Helen Carpenter
• Runner Up: Living the Dream (video)
  Photographer: Holly Draffin
• Runner Up: Kate Eggleton
  Photographer: Generations of Growers

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