One of the buzz topic we hear a load about is how toxic management is bad. But how do you recognise it?
It can be simple in theory to an outsider. But can you see it when your directly effected? And can one person's prescription of toxic management be fine to some one else.
Toxic management make the worker fell bad . (But every one is different) And bullying can take many forms (Just one method/means of been a toxic manager) And what one person perceive as problem other may not and all these thing can make it hard to recognise. It can be different.
It can lead to any of the follow or all (plus others?)
- Increased Labour turnover
- Increased absenteeism
- Reduced productivity
- Lost business
Are any of these things Toxic management?
- Micro management
- Bullying
- Favouritism
- Turning a blind eye
- Poor communication skills E.g. Shouting at people or even worse swearing
Yes
Lets look at turning a blind eye
The company has rules for a reason and lets say manger A lets worker B break those rules but enforce them on every one else. What happens? It leads to a felling that no mater what worker B can do what they want and Every one else can't they may even have to pick up the slack for worker B and that can/does cause tension. Tension is bad it can lead to stress and that is (Stress in work place) a big problem in the modern work place (results can be more staff than normal on sick). And Tension leads to a place been unpleasant to work in.And that is the major factor in toxic management making a work place unpleasant.
But why is it allowed to happen?
That is to complex an issue to go into in detail
- The manager does not realise the situation is happening
- The manager does not care
- The manager is not capable of their role
- The only way a manager know how to do things
These are only a few reason and are generic to all forms of toxic management
In fact I would go as far as to suggest that most problem as business face in regards employees is in some form or other related to toxic management.
Again I would be surprised if most of us have not experienced this in some form first hand.
Are some type of company more prone to this type of management problem? I would suggest it is ripe in low paid job environments among others were the staff are just a number.among others.
You can learn a lot about a company by how it treats it's people. It is one of the core factors in been a socially responsible business which all business should be striving for.
Simple rule of thumb TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WISHED TO BE TREATED,!
Thanks for reading
We all know that toxic waste is bad and dangerous to our health.And so is toxic management. I discussed in a previous blog how to spot it. But of equal importance is how to deal with it.
You can after all tell a lot about a company by how it treats it's people. And no mater what lets not forget for good or bad staff are brand advocates. Just picture what impression a unhappy staff member via toxic management would give a customer.Just take a greeter they would be unlikely to smile and that would reduce their approachability with customers the same can be said about many roles. But a happy employee will go and sing your praise as a business Etc. And possible win business.
But how do you avoid it?
After all in many case it is ingrained into some people in higher roles this is the best way to do things it gets results after all so why change? Changing these people mind and approach will be a challenge but just show them the damage their style of management is doing to the staff moral. Again how?
Retraining may work.
Stats may help if you can show them since they have been in charge of an area the absenteeism rate has gone up. Or any other negative stats.
But no mater what you do show them that their toxic style will no longer be acceptable any longer and if they don't change you are willing to let them go. They may be old school and that how it always been done but things change and move along.
Possible record them and show them the result but could be simple they have not realised. And no one told them there is an issue.
The solution is not a one size fit all thing it will vary.
I have discussed in the above section about toxic management how to spot it and stop it as a boss.But what about the Employee?
They can be stuffering under toxic leaders but how do they stop it? That not going to be easy is it? After all it is very unlikely just telling the toxic leader their toxic is going to result in anything other than making it worse.Yes in some case it can work if it is simply the leader in question is unaware of the effect of their action you would have to weigh this up against your knowledge of the person.It may be better to get some else to talk to them like their boss go above them discreetly and discuss your concern with the next in the chain.It is possible they were aware of it and just need one more piece of info to act.In some case this will be a safer way to go about it but it also needs weighing up a toxic leader may see it as going behind their back and undermining them if they become aware of it and again make your lot harder. It can be a mine field for the employee.
Any suggestion or ideas please add them in comments
Well we all know to some degree what makes a bad boss/leader and that has been a key part of the previous 3 above sections of this toxic management article
But what make a good boss ? And not just an OK boss?
And I am sure we all have our own ideas please suggest them in the comments.
One point I will make before jumping in this is to some degree the answer will depend on two factors are you the company owner or an employee.
Some things that may seem good can in-fact be bad E.g. a disinterested manager who just lets every one do what they want. Is in-fact a toxic manager for reason previously mentioned in the other toxic management blog.
And this may seem nasty to say but they are your boss not your mate. A boss who is a mate to their staff may seem great and to some degree is but can be very dangerous.This could be that only 1 or 2 staff members fit this and it can lead to favouritism or every is but it will make it harder for them to separate things fro they are my mate and I go drink or the such likes with them and them the staff member when things go wrong.Result can include letting things slide. A good boss get on with their work force and so on.
They know the role your doing and can do it themselves when needed this is a key factor a good leader should not ask staff to do things they can't or will not do themselves lead by example. Possible muck in when they have nothing to do if nothing else staff will be more inclined to trust them.
Will pressure can get things done helping it on can lead to stress been able to be a task master and crack the whip not all the time but only when really needed. Again the time scale is tight the staff will struggle to get it done I will lend a hand not sit their watching them struggle is a good attitude for a good leader.
But even a good leader will have flaws and limits know them as a leader and where needed ask for help it not a bad thing.
Who would you say is the best role model for leaders to aspire to be like?
