The short answer: just the circumstances. Both operate from the same foundation, control and lack of empathy. The difference is scale. Give a tyrannical manager a country, and they’ll run it like a dictator. In the workplace, power is exercised through micromanagement, veiled threats, and complete disregard for employee well-being. Hierarchy becomes an excuse to issue orders rather than lead with competence.

Europe prides itself on strong democracies, yet many companies function like autocracies. For eight hours a day, employees endure bosses who refuse to listen, demand without giving, and see their teams as disposable. Flexibility and respect vanish the moment you step into the office. It doesn’t matter if it’s a multinational or a small business, when leadership is built on fear, motivation and productivity collapse.

This toxicity doesn’t just ruin workplace morale; it costs companies real money. Employee turnover skyrockets, efficiency drops, and talent walks out the door. Good leadership drives success; bad management destroys it. And while businesses may ignore the problem, the consequences always catch up.