Patricia McLagan is a well-respected author, consultant, and expert in leadership development. Over the course of several decades, she has worked with numerous organizations, helping them shape effective leaders. Her latest book, The Shadow Side of Power, Lessons for Leaders (and Their Supporters), explores the challenges leaders face and the temptations that come with power.
McLagan’s career in leadership development began in the early 1980s when she published her first book. Since then, she has written several books and worked with major companies like GE Leadership Development Institute and NASA, where she was one of two external consultants who helped develop their leadership programs.
McLagan’s efforts in Minnesota also contributed to companies like 3M, where she helped create management and executive development programs. Her work aimed to improve how leaders think about their roles and build a more participative approach to management.
McLagan’s expertise took her beyond the United States, including ten years in South Africa. From 1992 to 2000, she helped companies and government agencies adapt to a democratic system as apartheid ended. Her work was crucial in helping organizations in South Africa adjust to new ways of operating and leading during this time of major political and social change.
This experience gave McLagan a unique perspective on leadership in different cultural and political contexts. Her work in South Africa is a testament to her ability to apply leadership principles to real-world challenges, influencing how leaders could serve more effectively in changing environments.
In The Shadow Side of Power, Lessons for Leaders (and Their Supporters), McLagan delves into the darker aspects of leadership. The book explores how leaders when they take on formal roles, inherit institutional power that can be both a force for good and a temptation to misuse. Leaders, she explains, are often unaware of these temptations, making it easy for them to fall into common leadership traps.
The book tells a fictional story about a leader who enters a “leadership inferno,” where he encounters different leaders who have misused their power. Through this story, McLagan illustrates the seven main temptations of leadership, such as corruption and short-term thinking. She hopes to help leaders recognize these temptations and avoid making these mistakes.
McLagan views leadership as more than just managing people; it is about using power responsibly. Power, she explains, is like energy that can either create positive change or cause harm. Leaders must learn to manage this energy carefully.
According to McLagan, many leaders are not fully aware of the power they have, which can lead them to misuse it, even unintentionally. She warns that when leaders start focusing on their personal gains instead of their team’s or constituents’ needs, they can become detached from the reality of their roles.
In her book, McLagan stresses the importance of long-term thinking. She argues that leaders should not just focus on short-term gains but consider the lasting impact of their decisions on people and organizations.
McLagan’s work also speaks to followers—the people who work with or under leaders. She highlights the role followers play in holding leaders accountable. Followers must be able to recognize when a leader is misusing power and take steps to address it, rather than becoming complicit in unethical behavior.
McLagan emphasizes that followers can get caught up in a leader’s promises or charisma, making it hard to see when they are being manipulated. She encourages people to think critically about the leaders they support and their responsibilities in ensuring leaders act ethically.
Patricia McLagan’s contributions to leadership development have left a lasting mark on the field. She has helped shape how organizations think about leadership and has worked with leaders to better understand the complexities of power. Her award-winning work, both in the U.S. and internationally, has provided practical tools for building more ethical and effective leadership structures.
Her book, The Shadow Side of Power, Lessons for Leaders (and Their Supporters), offers valuable lessons about the dangers of leadership and the importance of being aware of the temptations that come with authority. McLagan’s message is clear: leaders must understand the power they hold and use it responsibly for the benefit of those they lead.
Through her writing, consulting, and speaking, McLagan continues to influence the field of leadership development. Her work encourages both leaders and followers to recognize the importance of ethical leadership and the role that power plays in shaping decisions. Her legacy is one of promoting self-awareness, responsibility, and ethical decision-making in leadership roles.
As Patricia McLagan continues her work, her insights will remain essential for future generations of leaders and followers alike. Her dedication to responsible leadership and her understanding of the complexities of power will continue to shape how organizations develop leaders for years to come.
