Here's How You'll Know in Less Than 5 Minutes If Your Co-Worker (or Boss) Is a Toxic Person
Posted Dec 16, 2023
In our personal and professional lives, we interact with a wide range of people in our networks. However, it becomes important to evaluate whether investing more time in specific individuals is beneficial as time passes.
This is especially true regarding our coworkers, the people we spend a significant portion of our waking hours with. Why? Because they could be toxic and have a real negative impact on you.
Identifying a toxic person at work is crucial for maintaining a healthy workplace environment. Here are some signs to watch out for:
Consistent Negativity
Toxic individuals often have a perpetual dark cloud hanging over them. Imagine you're discussing a new project, and they immediately focus on all the potential pitfalls without acknowledging any opportunities. If someone is consistently negative, complains without offering solutions, and sees problems in everything, that's a huge red flag.
Practical tip: Maintain a professional demeanor and avoid encouraging inappropriate behavior. If necessary, politely excuse yourself from the conversation and reach out to HR or your manager.
Undermining Behavior
Let's suppose you share an innovative idea with the team, only to find out that your colleague presents it as his own during the meeting. Classic toxic move. These coworkers may undermine colleagues by spreading rumors or taking credit for others' work. Also watch out for those who don't celebrate others' successes.
Practical tip: To address the issue with a coworker, try to understand why they are acting that way. They may be envious, competitive, or projecting their own insecurities. By understanding their motives, you can approach them more effectively and build a stronger professional relationship.
Lack of Accountability
Toxic people lack self-awareness. They don't exercise responsibility and own up to "their stuff" when "their stuff" is at fault. Remember the old saying, "For every finger you point, there are three pointing back at you"? Toxic people are critical, can't admit to their own mistakes, and will blame their colleagues (or subordinates, if it's a manager) when something goes wrong, even if it's not based on reality. They are simply not accountable for their own actions.
Practical Tip: Notice how they react when things go sideways. Do they own up to their part or start pointing fingers?
Constant Drama
Toxic individuals thrive on drama. If someone is consistently involved in conflicts or gossip or creates unnecessary stress on others, they might be a source of toxicity. Picture a colleague who turns every minor disagreement into a full-blown soap opera, making collaboration challenging. That's drama for you, and it's toxic.
Practical tip: Set clear boundaries and team agreements on what is appropriate and not appropriate for how they communicate and collaborate.
Excessive Control
Toxic individuals may try to control situations and people around them. If someone is unwilling to delegate, micromanages, or is overly territorial, they could be toxic. For example, you propose a new approach to a task, and they resist, insisting on doing things their way, stifling creativity and collaboration. That's someone who has a penchant for controlling others.
Practical tip: Control freaks thrive on power struggles. It's better to avoid engaging in their game and set clear boundaries instead. Follow through on your consequences if they continue their behavior.
Remember, these signs don't always mean someone is irredeemable. People can change, and sometimes addressing the issue directly can lead to positive transformations. However, being aware of toxic behavior helps you navigate workplace dynamics more effectively.