Leaders’ Coping Strategies After Abusive Behaviour – From the Eyes of the Perpetrator

Abstract

The problem of abusive supervision is prevalent in organizations across the board. However, the dark side of leadership is under-researched. The focus of this article is abusive managers’ coping strategy with the guilt of being abusive with subordinates. First, a review has been provided about abusive supervision, which was followed by different literature on coping strategies. Following the discussion on the methodology, findings on coping strategies adopted by managers were presented. Implications and limitations were also discussed at the end. Using qualitative research methodology and by interviewing 21 managers across four countries in seven different sectors data analysis revealed that managers adopt up to eight different types of coping strategies and the most used coping strategies are seeking social support, planning to reduce abusive behaviour, blaming others and acceptance. Moderately used coping strategies are self-control, the mental undoing of the transgression, rationalization and mental disengagement. No manager was found to adopt positive reinterpretation, resignation and plan to make up for the transgression as a coping strategy for their abusive behaviour towards employees.