16. Early Warning Signs of Leadership Failure

Situation

On paper, a leader looks strong – but something feels off.

Symptoms: team climate deteriorates despite KPIs, turnover, defensiveness.

Challenge

Goal: detect hidden derailers, intervene before escalation, stabilize trust.

Why it matters: failure hides beneath the surface.

Solution

360° feedback, toxic traits, narcissism risk, team signals – focus on social impact and perception.

Tool Examples

• Hogan (HDS, HBRI, MVPI)
• XLNC (Style, Personality, Climate)
• Aon (ADEPT-15, SJT, Scales)

Full analysis in the PEATS Leadership Guide

More Use Cases available in the Use Case Library