LEADERSHIP Series

As a leader, your role goes far beyond overseeing operations, meeting targets, and managing teams. One of your most important responsibilities is creating and maintaining a healthy workplace environment. While many leaders focus on fostering growth and productivity, some overlook the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) indicators of toxicity in the workplace. Toxic behavior, whether positive (overly competitive, harmful optimism) or negative (bullying, gossip), can significantly undermine a team’s morale and productivity. Left unchecked, toxicity can spread like wildfire, damaging not only your company’s culture but also its bottom line.

In this article, we’ll explore the tools leaders can use to recognize toxicity in the workplace, discuss the dangers of procrastinating in addressing these issues, and outline a step-by-step process for dealing with toxic behaviors. Recognizing toxicity is just the beginning—effective leaders must act immediately to resolve these issues and prevent lasting damage.

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