Leadership plays an integral part in the work environment. A toxic boss is hard to deal with and sometimes hard to identify. However, it is crucial to understand whether you are dealing with a toxic work environment.
In this article, we’ll cover the signs of toxic bosses and some ways to deal with them before you start looking for a new job.
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Some toxic managers are apparent from day one. They set unreasonable expectations, do not trust their employees, participate in unfair treatment, and endanger the team’s self-esteem. However, not every toxic boss is easy to identify right away. It might take several months for employees to realize what is going on.
So, who is a toxic boss? It is a manager that damages the work environment and team productivity. Such a person decreases employee morale and eliminates any sense of interest or belonging among professionals. A toxic boss takes away any initiative and autonomy from employees.
According to the State of Global Workplace Report (2023):
The same report shows five main contributors to burnout, namely:
This data shows that toxic bosses hugely contribute to unhealthy work environments, employee burnout, and specialist turnover. Good managers can foster growth, communicate upward, and provide valuable opportunities. However, disruptive behavior drives employees away from the company, no matter how high the salary is.
A toxic manager has little trust in employees. It means micro-management all the way. It annoys the team and removes their engagement, creativity, and motivation.
A toxic manager who requires detailed reports on what you’ve been doing all day might end up with a team that cares more about reporting than working. Such demands increase employee anxiety and promote a toxic environment. It also strips professionals of autonomy.
Another sign you are dealing with a toxic boss is that they never listen. They do not take suggestions, feedback, or concerns. They do not support employees and only control and punish them. Toxic managers are usually bad communicators.
They dismiss anything others propose or suggest. As a result, not only does their team become unmotivated, but they also disengaged. What is the point of proposing innovation when no one listens to you? What is the point of caring about the company if you cannot contribute ideas?
People under such toxic management feel stuck and often decide to leave the company. High employee turnover is always a telling sign of an unhealthy environment.
A toxic boss can enforce a totalitarian-like control where there is a lack of information. A deeper toxic culture in the company is when an employee has to guess what to do instead of getting a precise protocol. Or a lousy manager might withhold other professional connections that could help you do your project more effectively.
And when they guess incorrectly, they are punished. Withholding information when there is no reason is an abuse control tactic. It leads to a lack of trust, decreased efficiency, and anxiety among team members.
Recognition is a key component in employee satisfaction. If you put conscious effort into work and it brings results, it is only natural to expect some praise.
However, a toxic boss rarely acknowledges other people’s success. They might even go as far as taking credit for your achievements in the eyes of higher-ups. Good bosses never feel threatened by the success of their team members. They share praise, express gratitude, and recognize one’s achievements.
It is a sure way to foster growth and encourage and motivate people.
The next sign of a toxic boss is that they change their behavior drastically when communicating with their own bosses. They may act differently based on who they are collaborating with.
It can also be a sign of a larger toxic management team. Maybe toxic behaviors have been fostered in the company for years. In this case, there is little to be done from the team’s standpoint.
Or the higher management might be unaware of the toxic behaviors of your boss because of the way they change their attitude.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, mental health and well-being in the workplace depend on physical and psychological safety. A toxic manager eliminates psychological safety, which results in poor work-life balance and decreases mental health. It can undermine work-life harmony and reduce physical health. Constant stress and negative thoughts can result in various health conditions.
If you are constantly feeling stressed, anxious, and insecure, you are in a toxic situation. In this environment, it is impossible to establish proper self-care and perform your best. A toxic boss creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and constant threat. They make people feel insecure about what they do and say.
It leads to more mistakes and continues a toxic cycle.
A toxic manager can ruin not only their team but the entire company. No amount of human resources and employee benefits can rescue an extremely abusive workplace. Learning to recognize such environments early is essential to avoid them when looking for new opportunities.
Here are the significant signs you are dealing with a toxic work environment.
Turnover rates differ among industries. Experts suggest that companies should strive to have a rate of less than 10%. However, the more realistic goal is 20%. The exact numbers may differ from industry to industry based on the specifics of the workload.
However, HR professionals know a high turnover rate indicates an unhealthy corporate culture. If you notice that employees are constantly leaving the team and hardly anyone has been working here for years, it might be a case of bad managers.
Leadership directly impacts the relations within the team. If specific incidents are not dealt with properly, they will become increasingly prevalent.
You deal with a toxic environment when there is a lack of motivation and morale among the team members. Suppose no one is engaged in the process and cares about career opportunities or new responsibilities. You’ll notice toxic behavior among employees, which can manifest in distrust, poor communication, absent boundaries, and other red flags.
It is hard to stay calm when there is a constant sense of fear among the team, such as if employees are afraid to communicate with the boss. If, for some, it is easier to swipe a problem under the rug than face a higher-up.
If an organization has double standards and favoritism, it isn’t easy to find allies among colleagues. It becomes a highly hostile workplace where everyone is on their own. There is no team in the traditional sense, and there is no feeling of support and collaboration.
One of the best self-care options when you find yourself in unhealthy work conditions is to get out there. You are your advocate; sometimes, looking for new opportunities elsewhere is the best option. It is a good idea to draft an exit strategy and care for your interests.
However, it is only sometimes possible to leave right away. Here are some tips on making your life easier when working with a toxic boss.
It can be challenging, but set boundaries with your boss and colleagues when possible. Do not take more duties than you can handle just to please them. If you face unrealistic expectations, be your advocate and talk about it. Also, try to set boundaries regarding the tone of communication.
Try to find allies among the team when giving feedback to the manager. Sometimes, a boss might not realize how toxic and detrimental their behavior is.
It can help to establish whether the person is a terrible manager or undertrained and has a style that aligns differently with your experiences and expectations.
Ask colleagues about handling specific situations and approaches they use.
While waiting for a better situation to arise or an opportunity to leave, prioritize your well-being; if you cannot change a problem, you need to try and change your attitude towards it.
Find something positive in your daily routine. It could be a camaraderie amongst team members. Or it can be a sense of achievement you foster. Celebrate your victories even if your boss fails to recognize them.
It depends on the situation, but if applicable, consider asking for help from higher-ups or HR professionals. If toxicity isn’t penetrating the whole company, it can be one way to deal with a bad boss.
But be strategic about it. Prepare some evidence and specific incidents to address. Remain professional, and do not let yourself get too emotional about your request.
