A fish rots from the head down: how exploitative leadership breeds unethical behavior

Key Points

• Unethical behavior is markedly influenced by exploitative leadership, indicating a significant relationship.
• Total incidents of unethical behavior rise when leadership styles exploit power dynamics, with a notable impact.
• This analysis of organizational culture highlights deep-rooted issues linked to exploitative leadership behaviors.
• The findings may enable organizations to reevaluate leadership practices to foster a more ethical work environment.