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#225: Rob Kalwarowsky is a world class leadership coach and expert in destructive leadership behaviour. He explains the different types of toxic leaders living in your head, how to identify your own destructive thought patterns, and the practical steps you can take to overcome them.

What you’ll learn

• [02:13] The six different destructive leadership types.
• [5:30] How many bosses display destructive leadership traits.
• [6:00] Why understanding destructive leadership types can help you.
• [6:50] Why self-compassion is essential for developing self-awareness.
• [8:25] How to be aware of what’s influencing your thought patterns.
• [9:15] Where negative internal thought patterns originate from.
• [10:55] How negative personality traits can serve a positive purpose.
• [13:04] How chronic stress hijacks our behaviour.
• [14:39] How your inner world shows up in your professional life.
• [17:15] How imposter syndrome can affect your performance at work.
• [20:55] Why you should identify the different characteristics of your personality.
• [22:51] How to identify your negative thought patterns.
• [24:56] How to know if you’re as self-aware as you think.
• [28:13] How to overcome negative thought patterns and behaviours.
• [30:30] Practical steps you can take to improve your stress response.
• [32:38] How to measure self improvement success.
• [33:39] Breathing techniques to lower stress.
• [36:21] How the direct manager influences employee engagement.
• [38:10] How to know if it’s the internal or the external that needs changing.

Resources mentioned in this episode
Please note that some of these are affiliate links and we may get a commission in the event that you make a purchase. This helps us to cover our expenses and is at no additional cost to you.

• Appetite for Destruction: A Psychometric Examination and Prevalence Estimation of Destructive Leadership in Sweden
• Dr Tasha Eurich
• No Bad Parts, Dr Richard Schwartz
• Taming Your Gremlin, Rick Carson
• Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2025
• Capitalizing on Chaos, Rob Kalwarowsky

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/the-six-toxic-leaders-in-your-head/

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