Effective leadership builds performance. Bullying leadership destroys it.

In our work with boards, executives and senior teams, one pattern is consistent:
organisations don’t fail because of a lack of talent, they fail because of poor leadership behaviours.

The most effective leaders consistently demonstrate:
• Clarity of purpose and direction
• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness
• The ability to challenge without humiliating
• Accountability paired with support
• Courage to make decisions and humility to listen
• A focus on long-term value, not short-term control

These leaders create environments where people think, speak up and perform.

By contrast, when a leader is perceived as a bully, the costs are significant:
• Silence replaces challenge and innovation
• Talented people disengage or leave
• Risk increases as bad news is hidden
• Trust erodes across teams and governance structures
• Performance becomes fragile and unsustainable

Bullying leadership is often excused as being “driven”, “demanding” or “results-focused”. In reality, it is a governance and performance risk.

At Peak Governance, we work with organisations that want strong leadership without fear, and challenge without damage. Whether through board effectiveness reviews, leadership advisory or governance support, our focus is simple: helping leaders create high-performing, psychologically safe organisations.

If your organisation is growing, changing, or under pressure, now is the time to ask whether leadership behaviours are enabling success or quietly undermining it.

Explore how we support boards and leaders at
https://www.peakgovernance.co.uk

Question for leaders and boards:
What behaviour do you see tolerated in leadership that would never be acceptable anywhere else in the organisation?