Toxic bosses have always been an unfortunate reality in virtually every imaginable discipline since time memorial. Who are these people, and why do they feel it is their right to disrupt an organization, to change its culture, to ruin vocational lives, to make life unbearable at work, to bully their way around the office, and to our amazement, get promoted all while leaving cringe-worthy destruction in their wake?
Let me first say that not all managers/leaders are toxic. There are some pretty good ones out there. Oh yes, I’ve seen them! Ok, that disclaimer is out of the way so let’s dig into these weird anomalies called toxic bosses.
First, from the get-go I believe toxic bosses are narcissistic, ill-tempered, mean-spirited, brash, self-centered, crass, dishonorable, envious, and backbiting vessels of destruction. I’m not saying that they aren’t redeemable, because they most certainly are. What I am saying is that their present behavior is in direct opposition to a peaceful, productive, efficient, enjoyable, and profitable operation. In other words, they make work a cesspool of anxiety for those around them.
If that weren’t enough, these malcontents (sorry, but that is essentially what they are) somehow climb the corporate ladder and, by doing so, begin to infect the entire organization. Honestly, we ask, how is this even possible with their track record of destruction? The short answer is they get stuff done. They don’t care about the “how.” They care about the outcome. To executives who don’t have to live under the toxic bosses’ thumb, they are viewed as being highly productive, efficient, and effective. They promote the company’s brand, help build ROI, and ultimately can say they have added value that increases revenue.
Sometimes, thank God, executives see the harm inflicted by this person’s toxic and poisonous behavior. My experience is that this is a slow and arduous process where, in the meantime, people continue to suffer through the bad boss’s tirades and self-serving goals.
So, what is an employee to do when upper management or an executive committee member doesn’t, or refuses to acknowledge that they have a toxic manager/leader working for them? The short answer is that the employee must choose how to respond to this person. That is their secret power. A couple of pointers:
- Pray for the boss. Yes, as a Christian that would be my advice. It breeds a kind and merciful heart and gives you some semblance of inner peace and control.
- Only worry about the things YOU can control. If it’s out of your control…let it ride. Don’t worry about it. This frees up an awful lot of RAM space in the soul.
- Update HR about this person’s toxicity. HR may or may not act on it, but you have done your due diligence.
- Finally, you may have to look for a new gig. Your personal health and peaceful disposition may be in the balance. It’s your life so do what is best for you.
The Right Side 