The manager Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 😡➡️😇➡️😡

Manager Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: The Worst Nightmare of Employees 😡➡️😇➡️😡

Have you ever had a boss who was kind and understanding one day, but treated you like you were the lowest of the low the next? The kind of manager who praised you in front of everyone one day, and then tore you to pieces in private the next over a trivial detail? (The only worse thing is the one who praised you in private and criticized you in public.)

If so, know that It wasn't just annoying. It was also detrimental to your productivity and your sanity.

Yet, there is a widespread belief that a manager can compensate for toxic behavior with moments of kindness and empathyIn other words, if he acts like a good boss once in a while, everything else will be forgotten. Unfortunately, reality tells the exact opposite.

👉 A leader who alternates between abusive and correct behaviors creates more damage than a consistent toxic leader.

Yes, you read that right. Better a predictably awful boss than an unpredictable Jekyll and Hyde. Why? Let's get to that.

⚠️ The problem: when your boss is an eternal unknown

Research has shown that leaders who oscillate between two personalities – sometimes ethical and understanding, sometimes aggressive and unfair – cause more stress, more emotional exhaustion, and more destructive behaviors in employees.

• 🔹 It drives people crazy. Never knowing what to expect creates constant anxiety.
• 🔹 It erodes trust in the leader. If a boss treats you with respect one day and humiliates you the next, you can't trust him.
• 🔹 It destroys motivation. If positive behaviors are only occasional, they are not enough to build a healthy environment.
• 🔹 “Sabotage” in the company is increasing. Emotional uncertainty leads to reactions such as stealing office supplies, ignoring requests, or failing to help colleagues.

📌 In summary? Alternating between kindness and abuse isn't a balance. It's a form of manipulation that leaves the team exhausted and demotivated.

🔍 Why do Jekyll & Hyde leaders do more harm than consistent toxic bosses?

It may seem absurd, but a consistently negative boss is more predictable, and therefore in a certain sense more “manageable”If you know your manager is a relentless tyrant, you can develop strategies to survive.

But if your boss alternates moments of empathy with moments of abuse, you can't predict what will happen. This creates:

• 🔹 High uncertainty → You never know what to expect.
• 🔹 Increased stress → You are always on alert.
• 🔹 Emotional exhaustion → Uncertainty is more energy-draining than constant negativity.

👉 Result? An environment where people feel insecure, perform poorly, and, in the long run, give up.

🔑 True leadership is a matter of consistency

So, if you are a manager (or aspire to be), forget the emotional roller coaster. Simply being kind every now and then isn't enough to erase the negative effects of toxic behavior.

• 📌 An effective leader is not perfect, but he is consistent. Your employees need to know what to expect.
• 📌 An ethical leader is always ethical, not just when it suits him. Being correct only at certain times is manipulation.
• 📌 A high-performing team is born from trust, not fear. If you want people to perform at their best, they need to feel safe.

🚀 Conclusion: True success lies in consistent leadership

If you think that moments of correctness are enough to compensate for toxic behaviors, you are making a serious mistake. Your employees don't forget. And most importantly, their brains are designed to remember negative experiences more than positive ones.

👉 Do you want to be a respected and followed leader? Be predictably fair.

👉 Want to build a productive team? Build trust every day, not every other day.

👉 Do you want your employees to be engaged? Always treat them with respect, not just when it's convenient.

Because in the end, The best leaders aren't those who waver between good and evil. They're those who choose to be right, always. 🎯