Zombie leadership is destroying you business – here’s how to fix it. A few years ago, I sat across from a frustrated CEO who couldn’t understand why their leadership development programme wasn’t working.
“It feels as if we’ve put millions into training, yet nothing changes. It’s like we’re moving in circles.”
They weren’t moving in circles. They were stuck in Zombie Leadership.
They had invested in leadership development, coaching programmes, and expert advice – but despite the glossy reports and PowerPoint presentations, nothing changed. Engagement remained low. Decision-making was slow. Their leadership team was busy, but not impactful.
Why? Because they were building on a rotten foundation.
Zombie Leadership: The rotting foundation of organisations
Imagine you’ve inherited a grand, historic mansion. On the surface, it looks polished – impressive even. But as you step inside, the walls are cracked, the floors creak underfoot, and the foundation is crumbling.
No amount of expensive renovations will fix a weak foundation.
This is Zombie Leadership – a rotting leadership structure that keeps organisations stuck in outdated, ineffective ways of thinking.
Zombie Leadership looks legitimate – full of fancy leadership frameworks, bold keynote speeches, and expensive training programmes – but at its core, it’s a relic of the past. It persists not because it works, but because it benefits those in power.
Haslam, Alvesson, and Reicher (2024) describe Zombie Leadership as a set of debunked leadership ideas that refuse to die, reinforcing hierarchy and legitimising the leadership industrial complex rather than enabling real impact.
And yet, organisations keep reinforcing it – believing outdated myths like:
- Leadership is about individual heroes, not collective influence.
- The best leaders are born, not made.
- Leadership looks the same in every context.
- Strong leaders must have all the answers – collaboration is a weakness.
The result?
- Leaders feel overwhelmed.
- Teams feel disengaged.
- Organisations struggle to make real progress.
It’s not just frustrating – it’s crippling.
Rebuilding leadership from the ground up
Maverick Leadership doesn’t patch over cracks – it rebuilds leadership from the ground up.
Instead of focusing on the leader, it focuses on the impact of leadership.
- Leadership is not about individuals; it’s about influence. Maverick leaders empower others to lead, shifting from control to impact.
- Leadership is contextual. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work. Effective leadership adapts to culture, people, and challenges.
- Collaboration is not a weakness; it’s a competitive advantage. True leaders bring out the best in those around them.
- Maverick Leaders create cultures of accountability and agility. They don’t reinforce hierarchy – they break down silos.
I worked with a client whose leadership team was stuck in a rigid, top-down model.
Decisions were slow, employees felt powerless, and leaders were drowning in tactical firefighting instead of strategic thinking.
Through a mixture of interventions designed for their particular challenges and culture, they transformed their workforce into a high-performing, agile leadership team.
Within months, engagement scores increased, decision-making became faster and more strategic, and leadership confidence skyrocketed.
They didn’t just repaint the walls – they rebuilt the foundation of leadership in their business.
What this means for you
🔹 For Leaders: Break free from the pressure to ‘have all the answers.’ Influence, don’t dictate. Be the catalyst for change, not just the figurehead.
🔹 For Organisations: Stop recycling ineffective leadership strategies. Build a culture where leaders create real impact, not just manage processes.
The question is – are you leading, or just maintaining a crumbling structure?
Zombie Leadership feels safe because it’s familiar. But it’s also ineffective, limiting, and exhausting.
You deserve a leadership model that actually works.
- If you’re wondering how to start rebuilding your leadership foundation, let’s talk.
- What’s one outdated leadership myth you’ve encountered? Let’s discuss in the comments.
