Machiavellian Leadership and Unethical Behavior at the Front Lines: The Demand for Voter Registration Files

“Evil” leaders often operate from faulty assumptions. They believe their power justifies manipulation or that the end justifies the means. They see control as essential to their vision and dismiss the human rights of others in pursuit of their goals.

Followers can play a role in this cycle too. Study after study is clear that followers accept or even contribute to toxic environments because they (1) seek approval, (2) fear repercussions, or are (3) influenced by a culture that discourages dissent. Sometimes, they accept false narratives, unaware of (or lacking care in) how they enable harm.

Understanding why unethical decisions occur requires examining the sociological, psychological, and organizational influences at play. Factors like conformity, fear of conflict, or lack of accountability usually reinforce the destructive behaviors unethical leaders embrace.

So, how can we create spaces that reject this harm?

🌟 Cultivating transparency, open dialogue, and promoting checks and balances are vital. For example, this can mean rejecting threats and demands that violate federal and state privacy laws - such as with the Justice Departments’ demand for sensitive voter data from at least 27 states.

The demand for voter files aligns with the oppression of democracy. It has very little to do with so-called “proactive election integrity”, which is some of the language that has been used to justify these demands. This term, “proactive election integrity” is projection.

Projection is the process of displacing one's feelings onto a different person, animal, or object (Psychology Today).  In this case, it seems that the Justice Department is attributing their own deceptive ambitions relating to voter fraud to the states for the purpose of diverting attention from their own unethical intentions.

The fact that voter registration and oversight authority rests with each state, supports checks and balances rather than hinders it.

The fact that these and other unacceptable demands are complicated doesn’t absolve us from our responsibility to understand it. Preventing and mitigating the emergence of leaders who prioritize power over integrity is everyone’s responsibility. Especially if we all wish to remain free.

Holding leaders accountable at the highest levels is not for the faint of heart. Yet ethical leaders must hold themselves and each other accountable to the higher calling of leadership.

If we want a future rooted in justice and compassion, we can’t ignore Machiavellian leadership perspectives. We must examine and reject these behaviors at every level. If we don’t, at every level this harm is allowed to grow – it further decays each layer until the whole system is rotten.

Accountability and healing starts when ethical and inclusive leaders side with equity, morality, and justice.

❓  What steps are you taking to promote integrity in your community or workplace?

❓  As a leader, how are you building healthier, more ethical spaces for those you serve?

💚 Let’s cultivate leadership that uplifts and respects everyone.

#EthicalLeadership #InclusiveLeadership

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As a clinical sociologist and educator, I am excited about opportunities to teach in classrooms or speak at events! When I'm not teaching and speaking, I enjoy facilitating organizational effectiveness and learning culture. It has been a joy to serve as keynote speaker or panel member at countless events. I have a combined 9+ years of adjunct instruction, teaching over twenty different courses at four institutions.

I am always looking for opportunities to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in-person, virtually, or hybrid. If you’d like to invite me to (1) speak, preach, or teach, (2) help your group overcome organizational challenges, or (3) retain your people or engage your members - reach out to me through LinkedIn. I’d love to connect. 💞.