Management and Development Process

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of the
emergence of toxic leadership style in each of the five stages of the
organizational life-cycle. The research methods used for data gathering
were qualitative and library documentation together with interviews.
Statistical population of this research consisted of professors of
management (in organizational behavior and human resource) of
selected universities in Tehran. From among them, 15 were selected,
using Snowball Method. Theme analysis method was used for data
analysis. The findings show that existence of such factors as toxic
leader acting as savior and crisis solver, undermining the legal
mechanisms and granting too much power to the savior to make
changes in order to ensure the survival of organization in times of
crisis and, finally, dominance of emotion rather than logic when acute
problems come up will increase the likelihood of the emergence of
toxic leadership in the waning stages of organizational life cycle.