Signs of toxic leadership include poor behavior, lack of integrity and respect, low morale, micromanagement, ambiguity of expectations, poor communication, unapproachable nature, and other signs of disruption.
Document Actions. The second tactic to deal with toxic leadership is to document actions. Take the initiative to document the examples of toxic or inappropriate behavior that you notice bad bosses exhibit.
There are several key reasons for our attraction to toxic leaders: First, strong yearnings for toxic leaders percolate up from our unconscious, where psychological needs send us in search of authority figures who can offer us comfort and promise to satisfy some of our deepest longings.
There are some leader behaviors that, even when done in small amounts, are inherently destructive. Taking credit for the work of others, sexual harassment or lying about important issues, even when rarely done, fall within the realm of destructive behavior.
Such leaders share common personality traits, notably including narcissism, hubris and Machiavellianism. There are some organizational best practices on how to deal with such destructive leaders who exhibit these very traits.
The Toxic Five Culture Attributes. We grouped closely related elements into broader topics and identified what we call the Toxic Five attributes — disrespectful, noninclusive, unethical, cutthroat, and abusive — that poison corporate culture in the eyes of employees.
What is making the environment toxic right now? - So there's a great study that Donald Sell just finished with his colleagues where he looked at five attributes of toxic culture and they break down to disrespect, exclusion, abuse, selfish and unethical behavior, and some kind of cutthroat or lack of inclusion tendency.
In some cases, toxic leaders may not realize what they are doing. Their behavior can be a defense mechanism against their own self-doubts.
Some common signs of bad leadership include passive aggressive communication, failure to own up to mistakes, not listening to concerns, or creating an intimidating work environment.
However, it is how you deal with conflict that can potentially be problematic. Research has uncovered four toxic behaviours that can get in the way of communication and derail collaborative relationships if left unchecked. The four behaviours are Blaming, Contempt, Defensiveness and Stonewalling.
Dysfunctional leadership styles (authoritarian, narcissist, abusive, unpredictable, Machiavellian), may prove to be effective in the short term and may create some quick results, however in the long run, they disrupt the organization negatively and change the culture for the worse.
A toxic person is anyone whose behavior adds negativity and upset to your life. Many times, people who are toxic are dealing with their own stresses and traumas. To do this, they act in ways that don't present them in the best light and usually upset others along the way.
A toxic person is someone whose causes harm to other people through their behavior consistently, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Common toxic behaviors include emotional manipulation, lying, gaslighting, lack of empathy, and more.
Self-centeredness and arrogance
This is one of the most recognizable toxic traits. Arrogance and self-centredness are two sides of the same coin. Arrogant people think highly of themselves, to the point where they feel that they're better than everyone else.
“There may be high levels of stress, poor communication, lack of trust, and little opportunity for growth or development. Employees may feel like they're being treated unfairly and may experience discrimination, harassment, or bullying.” The awareness of toxic work culture has spurred a flurry of research.
In some cases, toxic behavior may stem from underlying psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, or borderline personality disorder. People with these conditions may engage in toxic behavior as a way to cope with their own emotional struggles.
The 4 A's leadership platform
Further, we must demonstrate and help our teams hold the line when it comes to being Aligned, Accountable, Authentic, and Aware. The moment an individual sees their leader as being off base with any of the 4 A's, they will stop following, stop contributing that extra energy.
Leadership failure can be caused by many factors including the leader's lack of experience, poor communication skills, and conflicts with other leaders. Leaders need to put their best foot forward at all times so they do not risk losing the respect of those around them or undermining their authority as a leader.