Does anyone have information, i.e. articles, case studies, etc. on how power affects top leaders in an organization? I'm trying to find some information that could be the basis of discussion for my company's next leadership meeting. Specifically, is there anything in print that addresses how leaders, as they rise in an organization, feel that they are entitled to ignore policies or bend the rules, whether formal or informal.

Does anyone have an idea of where I might find such information? Thank you in advance.

It seems to me that you have bias of how ‘leadership positions’ naturally gravitate to neglect of accountability and abuse of power. “Our eyes see what our mind looks for.”

If we take a more positive and open-minded focus and look at how effective leaders keep their awareness, live with humility, and exercise their leadership through their people, then a great book to explore this is “The Leadership Challenge” by Kouzes and Posner. I believe if we address the effective traits of successful leaders and emulate what they do well, the negatives will be fewer…and more easily seen.

Other than this book, there’s a lot of great research on the types of power and those who wield it.