Tolerating bad leaders can lead to detrimental consequences

When Volkswagen's CEO, Martin Vinterkorn, aimed to surpass Toyota and General Motors, successes were initially seen, but a scandal in 2015 (emissions gate) revealed unethical practices. Although the defeat device was not Vinterkorn's idea, his leadership faced criticism. Research suggests that tolerating bad leaders can escalate issues within a company, as seen with Volkswagen's weak board, compliant employees, and enabling culture. Barbara Kellerman emphasizes the importance of not tolerating bad leaders, noting that bad leadership is a social disease that can worsen over time.