Most women leaders have worked with one. The high performer who delivers results but leaves damage in their wake. The behaviour is excused. The impact is minimised. The cost is carried by everyone else.
In this episode of Lead to Soar, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle the enduring problem of the “brilliant jerk” and why organisations continue to protect them. They look at how performance is often used as a shield for bad behaviour, how this disproportionately affects women, and why calling it out is harder than it should be.
The conversation also gets practical. Michelle and Mel walk through how to assess whether the organisation is serious about accountability, what to document, and how to escalate concerns without burning political capital or putting your own credibility at risk.
This episode is a recording from a LinkedIn Live and reflects real questions women leaders are asking about safety, standards, and power at work.
In this episode, they discuss:
What defines a “brilliant jerk” and why the archetype persists
How organisations confuse results with leadership
The gendered cost of tolerating harmful behaviour
When raising concerns is worth it and when it isn’t
How to take issues to a manager or HR with evidence and judgment
This episode is for women leaders who are tired of carrying the emotional and operational load created by poor behaviour that never seems to have consequences.
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