Turinys
Great leaders inspire employees and discover more and more talents in them, while toxic leaders deprive people of motivation, physical and intellectual strength. Psychotherapist Amy Morin talks about the dangers of such bosses both for individual employees and for the company as a whole.
Many of my clients complain, “My boss is a tyrant. I need to look for a new job” or “I loved my job so much, but with the new management, the office just became unbearable. I don’t know How long longer I can take it.» And there is. Working for a toxic boss significantly impairs the quality of life.
Where do toxic bosses come from?
Bad leaders are not always toxic. Some simply do not have developed leadership qualities: organizational skills and the art of communication. Toxic leaders harm others not out of inexperience, but simply out of «love for the art.» In their hands, fear and intimidation are the main tools of control. They do not disdain humiliation and threats to achieve their goals.
Such leaders often possess the traits of a psychopath and a narcissist. They don’t know what empathy is and abuse their power.
The harm they can cause
Researchers from the University of Manchester Business School have found out how toxic bosses affect subordinates. They interviewed 1200 workers in various industries from several countries. Employees working under these leaders reported experiencing low levels of job satisfaction.
The researchers also found that the pain employees experienced at work extended into their personal lives as well. Workers who had to endure narcissistic and psychopathic bosses were more likely to experience clinical depression.
Toxic executives hurt corporate culture
Their behavior is contagious: it spreads among employees like fire in the forest. Employees are more likely to criticize each other and take credit for others and are more aggressive.
A 2016 University of Michigan study found similar results. The main features of the behavior of such bosses: rudeness, sarcasm and humiliation of subordinates lead to psychological fatigue and unwillingness to work.
Toxic relationships are bad not only for morale, but also for company profitability.
At the same time, a negative workplace environment contributes to a decrease in self-control among ordinary employees and an increase in the likelihood of their rude behavior towards colleagues. Uncivilized working relationships are bad not only for morale, but also for company profitability. The researchers calculated that the company’s financial losses associated with a degrading environment are about $14 per employee.
How to measure the success of a leader?
Unfortunately, many organizations measure leader performance based on individual results. Sometimes toxic bosses manage to achieve short-term goals, but they do not lead to meaningful positive changes. Threats and blackmail can force employees to work 12-hour days without a day off, but this approach has only a short-term effect. The behavior of the boss negatively affects motivation and productivity.
Workers are at increased risk of burnout as a result of poor management, and constant stress in the workplace leads to reduced productivity and lack of satisfaction.
When evaluating a leader’s performance, it is important to look not at individual results, but at the whole picture and remember that the leader’s activities can lead to negative consequences for the organization.