Not all great leaders come from top business schools. Some come from paper companies in Scranton or schools of witchcraft and wizardry.

In this article, we’re stepping away from Marcus Aurelius and exploring three fictional powerhouses of leadership. From the misguided empathy of Michael Scott to the wisdom of Dumbledore, and the iron fist of Miranda Priestly, we’ll discover what each personality reveals about toxic leadership, emotional leadership, and leading with empathy.

Let’s start with the world’s best boss. Which is undeniable because it’s written on his favorite coffee cup.

Michael Scott: Emotional Leadership Gone Too Far

Known for his bizarre team-building exercises, desperation for approval, and office-based parkour, the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin specializes in something many leaders struggle with: Leading with empathy.

Because despite all his weaknesses, he loves his team and wants them to succeed. This helps him build loyalty and strong connections at work, and a relaxed culture in the office.

However, Michael Scott is largely ineffective as a boss because of his lack of structure, self-awareness, and professional boundaries. This is why, despite his good intentions, he’s a prime example of emotional leadership without clarity.

Because it’s all well and good being emotional and empathetic as a leader, but if you don’t have the purpose or discipline to get results, chaos ensues. Take one of greatest Michael Scott leadership quotes:

“Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”

As you can see, he’s clearly not a model of best practice, but he reminds us that heart matters in leadership.

From too much heart to not enough, next, a trip to Manhattan.

Miranda Priestly: The Devil of Toxic Leadership

Miranda Priestly couldn’t be further from Michael Scott in pretty much every way imaginable.

She’s all about vision, precision, and power, and the editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine doesn’t waste time on being liked. In fact, she seems to thrive on the exact opposite, and rules exclusively through fear. As a result, Miranda is the perfect example of toxic leadership disguised as high performance, which is something we see a lot with leaders.

However, buried beneath that icy exterior and cutting one-liners, Miranda does teach us how clear expectations can lead to incredible results. She knows what she wants and doesn’t tolerate anything but the best, and for this, she builds an empire of excellence.

The issue is that she has no empathy or trust in her team, which translates into leadership quotes like: “Please bore someone else with your questions”. It’s fair to say that if you try and emulate this as a leader in the real world, you won’t go far.

Because while high standards can elevate performance, ruling through fear is one of the most toxic leadership traits there is. It stifles creativity, creates silos, and develops resentment and burnout, which ultimately, does much more damage than good.

So, just like Goldilocks, we’re yet to find the leadership style that’s just right. Maybe a trip to Hogwarts can help us get there?

Dumbledore and Leading with Empathy

Finally, we have Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts and as wise, mysterious, and charming as they come. Dumbledore is all about reshaping perspectives with his transformative leadership style, and he revels in guiding others to reach their potential.

Even if it means risking Harry’s life every semester.

Rather than being negligent, as many claim, he would argue that he has a deep trust in the people he leads. This is the case even when stakes are incredibly high, which the students at Hogwarts who regularly risk their lives for him will attest to.

With toxic leadership left at the door, Dumbledore teaches us the benefits of leading with empathy, purpose, and applying emotional leadership. He also shows that trusting others is crucial and the importance of letting people do their thing to get results.

This is exemplified in the following Dumbledore quote:

“You must be the one to make the choice, Harry. Others will try to choose for you, but it is your path.”.

This reflects Dumbledore’s belief in empowering others to act independently, which can be applied to both mystical missions and real-life situations. He also demonstrates that leadership isn’t about having all the answers all the time, but about helping people find their own answers for the greater good.

However, despite his fantastic beard and half-moon specs, he’s not flawless, and his secrecy and manipulation often backfire. That’s why it’s important not to go full Dumbledore as a leader, or full Scott or Priestly, for that matter. It’s about knowing when to adapt. It’s the ability to read the moment, understand what’s needed, and adapt your approach accordingly. And that kind of intentional flexibility starts with intentional self-reflection.

Which neatly brings us to leadership journaling.

Why Leadership Journaling is Crucial

Not everyone has a pet phoenix to do their bidding or Anne Hathaway to run around for them. So, for the muggle leaders out there, leadership journaling is a bit of magic that gives you the awareness to step back and make better decisions.

Take ten minutes and ask yourself three questions:

1. When are you most like Michael Scott, where your empathy hurts more than it helps?
2. When do you channel Miranda Priestly and let toxic leadership traits shine through?
3. What can you learn about Dumbledore and his unwavering trust in people, even if they don’t seem up to the challenge to others.

These will help you better understand which leadership traits are helping you and your team, and which ones may be holding you back.

If you’re looking to get started with leadership journaling, download our complimentary 31-days of leadership journal prompts for inspiration.

Final Thoughts: Finding Balance as a Leader

Fictional leaders are extreme for a reason. They entertain, of course, but they show us what happens when weaknesses are ignored, and toxic personality traits are left unchecked.

So, whether you’re guiding your team through change, facing difficult decisions, or trying to be more mindful as a leader, the lessons stay the same: Empathy matters, but so does vision, and without self-awareness, you can become a liability to your team.

Find Out What Kind of Leader You Are

If you’re worried about being a bit too Miranda Priestly, a bit too Michael Scott, or even a bit too Dumbledore, our Leadership Styles Profile reveals how your leadership is actually being experienced by your team.

Built for CEOs, executive leaders, and business owners, this powerful, psychologically-grounded diagnostic tool reveals how often, and how effectively you use each of the six globally recognized leadership styles: Autocratic, Relentless, Compassionate, Mentor, Consensus, and Navigator.

• Get scores and insights across the 6 globally-recognized leadership styles
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• Identify which styles you default to and how they impact your team’s performance

Take the assessment today to understand how to lead with greater empathy and impact without compromising on performance or growth.

It’s like the great Albus Dumbledore once said:

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”.