Dean to share toxic leadership lessons

Having a boss who bullies and belittles does more than make for a long day.

A bad boss can result in unhealthy personal stress levels as well as decreases in both work effort and quality throughout the organization, according to George Reed, dean, School of Public Affairs.

But bad bosses – or what Reed refers to as toxic leaders – can both be survived and eliminated from organizations. Reed will share his tips on working with a bad boss and why companies should invest in leadership development during a free UCCS HealthCircle Community Health Series lecture. The lecture, “Toxic Leadership and Chronic Stress,” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 26 in Room 120 of the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences, 4863 North Nevada Avenue.

Reed became dean of the School of Public Affairs in 2015 and previously was an associate dean of the School of Leadership and Education at the University of San Diego. Earlier, he was a faculty member at the U.S. Army War College where he was professor and director of command and leadership studies. His career began as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. He retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel after 27 years of service.

He earned a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, a master’s degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri. His research and writing address leader development, public sector leadership and ethics. He teaches courses in leadership, ethics, and organizational theory and behavior.

Reed’s presentation is part of an ongoing series of community health lectures provided by the UCCS HealthCircle to educate the greater Colorado Springs community on common health issues. Previous lectures dealt with the importance of sleep, nutrition, preventing falls, stress management, ultrasound testing, improving the quality of primary care visits and the importance of posture.

In February 2014, five UCCS clinics joined to become the UCCS HealthCircle. Located in the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences, the clinics are the UCCS Aging Center, the Peak Nutrition Clinic, the Center for Active Living, a nurse-managed Primary Care Clinic and the Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. For more information, visit www.uccs.edu/healthcircle.