Toxic Leader Essay

Toxic leadership is usually the right way to describe the leaders who head a particular organization who stresses everyone that works under him/her. However, this should not be confused with tough leaders.

There are characteristics of a toxic leader which you must recognize before you decide to work under such poisonous cloud.

These leaders may or may not recognize that they are behaving "toxic" themselves. But people who work under them inevitably will begin to use words like “destroy - either someone’s career or the company, bully, threaten, yell, back stab, belittle, and working under him/her is hell.”

What are some of the most significant traits of toxic leaders?

1. Tear Others Down

In Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Level 2 is Safety and Level 3 is Sense of Love and Belonging

The yelling, manipulation, belittling and back stabbing creates a culture where trust is near zero with such leaders.

5. Acts of Cowardice

A toxic leader does not have to be someone who yells and is aggressive. This leadership style does include those who are soft-spoken, and even gives you an impression that he is sincere and trustworthy! This is just a façade to mask their inadequacy as leader - competence or trust wise.

The act of cowardice can come in many forms but namely indecisiveness, the resolve to make important decisions and determination to see a tough decision through. But it can even be as small as making a presentation to a less than friendly crowd or facing tough clients.

6. Zero Confidence

As a unit, you and your colleagues have zero confidence this person can lead. This can be due to various reasons. Besides not caring about the esprit de corps, he is likely to be incompetent in the skills needed to execute the job.

Everyday, you and your colleagues go through unnecessary stress and as the days drag on, you get to feel more and more hopeless about the