If I were to ask a group of individuals who contributed to their growth as a professional many would point to their mentor that they valued the most. But what if we never received the same type of mentorship, counseling, or coaching? Throughout my nine year career, I was unfortunate to have a toxic leader that would follow me and remain my supervisor. Even though this leader was a toxic arrogant leader, he contributed greatly to my success as a professional. Ironically the contribution of my success is not owed to the most competent, efficient leader but it is owed to an arrogant incompetent leader.
Toxic leadership runs rampant in the military. Not every soldier is fortunate enough to fall under great leadership, some of us are forced to fall under toxic egotistical leaders. I myself fell under the unfortunate ones that had an unqualified leader to mentor me. I joined the army when was I was seventeen, I was a naïve on how the military and leadership should be. I found myself part taking in rituals that are considered hazing and demeaning. Many of the activities were considered a rite of passage or way of initiating us into the unit. I was starting to realize that these meaning less task were unprofessional and were impacting our morale. We had fallen under leadership who never showed up on time or only presented themselves when it was time to
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Many of us younger enlisted fell under his influence due to his credentials. This leader would always talk about his success and accomplishments. Even if you were to accomplish a task or goal we would go as far as to tell you how unimportant it was or to inform you he would have done better. I was starting to catch on to his gimmicks and I was starting to realize this man was all talk. He always talked how great he was but could never show it. This man did not show the characteristics of a competent leader but a toxic