Executive Stress: Is Your Boss Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know?

Calling the boss crazy – while unlikely to be a career-enhancing move – may be disturbingly close to the truth. New research into the emotional state of executives reveals they suffer far higher levels of mental instability than the general population. Largely to blame are the demands of high-stress roles that preclude corporate high fliers and professionals from being themselves. The upshot may be over-aggressive and other types of dysfunctional behaviour. News of the incidence of "toxic" bosses is now prompting questions about the abilities of executive coaches and leadership interventions for supporting senior staff when their behaviour has gone awry.