Have you ever worked for a manager or boss that you couldn't stand? Was it because of their personality? their management style? Did they possess toxic traits that put you off work?
I have definitely come across a few incompetent leaders in the past. Although it was a pain to deal with them then, I'm glad I had that experience, because it taught me what NOT to do as a manager and how IMPORTANT a positive mindset and setting a good example for your team really is.
Today, I'd like to share with you the 3 toxic traits that I've come across in the workplace. I think that putting these out there might be helpful for some people - it'll help you notice when someone engages in those or when it's you that's acting this way toward your colleagues.
1. Lack of professionalism:
I once had a manager who would give out to me for the smallest, most insignificant mistake just because he wasn't in a good mood on that particular day. I also had a manager at one point who couldn't control her emotions when it came to being angry or unhappy with her team's results (even if it was her strategy that failed).
Working for both of these people was miserable and affected everyone in the same way. How good or bad your day was depended on their mood on a given day. Looking back at it now, I'm angry at myself for not saying anything about this to their superiors!
Lack of professionalism can also reveal itself in a whole different way. Whether it's addressing private issues in front of other employees, demeaning people publicly or not treating them with basic respect - such behavior should simply not be tolerated in the workplace.
2. Not making time to speak to your team
We depend on our superiors' feedback and guidance heavily when it comes to our professional (and often personal) growth. One of my ex-managers would always be ''too busy'' to answer questions I needed to have answers to in order to do my job. She also couldn't find the time to meet with me every couple of months to let me know how she thinks I'm getting on at work!
This was demotivating and made me feel like I was wasting my time with a company that didn't care about my professional development. I have to say I was relieved when I found out about this person seeking a new position with a different firm & a more competent colleague being selected as her replacement.
3. Making your employees feel stupid when they ask questions
''Don't ask stupid questions'', ''Have you not been following the email thread last week?'' These questions just scream TOXIC to me. They induce guilt and can easily affect your confidence.
Being oblivious to what has been happening at work is one thing but having a slower or a bad week does not mean that you should feel stupid or inferior for asking questions! Besides, sometimes it's the managers that forget to brief their team on things or explain how something works.
Even if you don't take this too personally, from a psychological standpoint, the more times you hear this, the more you start to believe what they say (even subconsciously!).
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So here they are! The 3 toxic traits that I have come across in the workplace before. If you're really interested in this topic, Forbes published an article on other unacceptable managerial behaviours and I have written about toxic workplaces on this blog in the past.
Have you ever had bad experiences with your boss or manager because of how they behaved? Let me know in the comments!
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