10 Signs That Toxic Leadership Is Present at Your Company

10 Signs That Toxic Leadership Is Present at Your Company Who doesnt love an episode of House of Cards? The juicy storyline of a relentless politician who would do leidhing short of fulfilling his self-fulfilled destiny. Only Hollywood could come up with a storyline as good as this one or maybe not?Lets face it Those characters arent that far from stories weve heard from friends and family. Somebusiness leaders can be toxic, just as much as Frank and Claire Underwood, disguised as your manager, C-suite executive or peer. Its not that unreasonable that you might be a victim of a toxic leader. If your every day normal includes sharing stories from your workplace with family and friends as in work is all you talk about you might be a victim of toxic leadership.Here are 10 signs where toxic leadership is present at your company and what you can do about it.1. Do youspotnepotism?This is the practice of employing family or friends in a company that will inherently give more power and in fluence of those individuals. Most companies have policies either against or addressing nepotism in the workplace to avoidconflicts of interest. Not all nepotism means that there is toxic leadership present in your company. Some small businesses are andrang by family members and are perfectly fine. The point is to be aware of how nepotism can impact your working conditions.2. Is there an absence of company policies?These could suggest that the company doesnt want to verstndigung im strafverfahren with how employees should report issues and consistently follow the same procedure each time there is a recurrence. If you arent sure what your companys policies are on things like how to deal with sexual harassment, for example, ask your HRmanager or representative for a copy or a link where you can download. Youll want to keep a hard copy of your company policies for your reference and for version control if needed.3. Doesthe head of your function have a history of bad behavior?If possibl e, this is something you want to research before you take the job but sometimes that is difficult to do. Carefully determine if that persons history directly impacts your ability to be successful in your role. If the answer is yes, then you should consider reporting the bad behavior to your HR representative and manager.4. Is yourboss supported?Depending on the company hierarchy, you might be impacted by toxic leaders who manage the company directly or indirectly. If your boss isnt supported in their career, budget needs to run your function, or ability to make (even just basic) decisions, this can be symptomatic of a toxic work environment. You might want to consider how this will impact your career path within the company.5.Is there aCYA culture?Cover your ass (CYA) is generally a mindset that occurs when management is a blame and shame culture. Its a micromanager special. Do you find yourself carbon copying (ccing) or blind carbon copying (bccing) people on every email just to pr ove a point? Or do you find yourself cc-ed when your manager wants to humiliate you or a coworker? Its an environment low on trust and usually low on morale as well.One suggestion to stop the CYA culture (with you) is to document your process and only offer it if asked.6. Do you sense a just deal with it mentality?You and your colleagues have succumbed to the work environment and choose to settle for we will tough this out. Instead of focusing on great work, you find yourself complaining and talking about the same issues with colleagues. If work is starting to feel like a constant venting sesh, its a sign of toxic leadership not searing through the organizational dysfunction. Not sure what that dysfunction looks like? Here are seven signs youre trapped in a dysfunctional workplace.7. Are relationships built on loyalty?This is a form of manipulation to control people indirectly or directly to carry out a larger agenda. Its not obvious what your role is in the agenda you just know th at you need to do as your told and get it done. That said, the general outcome of unterstellung relationships leaves will leave you feeling exhausted, tired and unsure who your allies are. People who suffer from this type of unhealthy relationship shouldnt underestimate the overall impact to your mental health. Consider finding a healthcare provider and support within the company to escalate your concerns.8. Are whistleblowers going to the press?Thiscan lead to some interesting water cooler talk but be wary, the press loves a good story. Be cautious about talking about stories you read or hear about if youre not directly impacted. You can create harm by spreading speculations and gossiping with coworkers. Heres how to deal with workplace gossip.9.Is anyone heldaccountable?This is not only frustrating but it can be a sign of toxic leadership. It could be as simple as the toxic leader doesnt know how to manage a person or the team. Bad leaders can sometimes be so disconnected from the ir moral compass that they refuse to manage the bad behaviors directly.10. Do discriminatory behaviors lead to bias decisions?These can lead to bias decisions in the form of sexism, racism and ageism, among other forms of discrimination.If you feel that youve experienced or observed any of these behaviors, you should consider contacting your HRmanager right away.If you are experiencing toxic leadership at your employer, you have options to rehabilitate from the circumstances. Youre not alone and you shouldnt feel alone as youre going through this experience. Prioritizing self-care is so important when youre going through a difficult time. This could mean scheduling time to eat a meal or working out during the day. You could also consider seeing a medical professional to help with rehabilitating your mind and body.Aside from focusing on yourself, there are other ways you can manage a toxic work environment. Depending on your personality and communication preferences you couldStand up to the bad behavior and attempt to improve your working conditions. If you are retaliated against, you should consider speaking with your HR representative, manager, or possibly a lawyer.Look for a new job, perhaps even a new job in a new industry. We spend enough time at work theres no sense in being in a state of misery for any extended period of time.Consider speaking with a lawyer to have legal advice.