Yes, you can argue with the results of bad leadership.
You often hear that expression: “You can’t argue with the results” used to describe a leader or performer who succeeds in their goals but maybe not in the way you would choose. Bobby Knight, who threw chairs at his players: “You can’t argue with the results.” The movie director who is verbally abusive but wins Oscars for his films: “You can’t argue with the results.” The conductor or coach who belittles their players but achieves great success on the field or in the concert hall: “You can’t argue with the results.”
Yes, yes you can. Because it is possible to achieve those results without belittling people. It is possible to achieve those results without hurting people. It is possible to achieve those results without the people you lead needing therapy afterwards.
If a leader thinks it’s not possible, then they either aren’t creative enough to find those solutions or maybe enjoy exercising the power dynamic and so choose to take that approach.
I can’t argue that abusive leadership gets results. But I can argue that if you zoom out from the game, from the concert, from the day, the results aren’t what you think they are. And those long-term negative outcomes must be accounted for.
If you care about the people you’re leading, then you must argue with the results of bad leaders.
The victories are worthless if they hurt the people involved.