The 5 People You Meet in a Toxic Work Environment

Presented by: Rich Harrison & Meghan Hatalla

“The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.”Gruenter & Whitaker

We are surrounded by toxic people at work.

This is why you need to care...

Toxic work environment

1. Major Communication Problems2.Inconsistency in following

policies3.Narcissistic leaders4. Seething disgruntlement5. Physical and emotional health

effects

Source: Entrepreneur

“[Those] who experience psychological stress at work face twice the risk of cardiovascular disease.” Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen - German Research Centre for Environmental Health

Survey: 14,000 CEOs, managers, and employees

“Employees subjected to incivility ‘markedly loosened bonds withtheir work life.’”Porath and Pearson -Georgetown and Arizona State Universities

Incivility: 96% of American workers have experienced it

(99% have witnessed it)

….intentionally decrease the quality of their work

...take their frustrations out on customers

50% decrease work effort, intentionally spend less time at work

left their jobs due to uncivil treatment

12%

Gaslighting: a form of mental abuse in which a victim is manipulated into doubting his or her own memory, perception and sanity.

The Cost of Avoidance

★ Reduced Productivity★ Reduced Creativity★ Damaged

Relationships★ Broken Trust★ Attrition

Sociopath vs. Petty Tyrant

The Sociopath“One out of every 25 human beings has no conscience, no sense of right or wrong, no empathy, no ability to understand emotion–no soul. Worse, while they can mimic emotion, they see other humans as mere pawns or saps...” Dr. Martha Stout - Harvard Medical School

Managing Sociopaths

★ Be honest with yourself: do not make excuses for them

★ Do not trust them★ Do not expect them to change★ “Talk powerfully with the truth”★ Get help and help others cope★ Know when to leave!

The Petty Tyrant“...a tormentor, someone who either holds the power of life and death over warriors, or simply annoys them to distraction.” Carlos Castaneda - The Fire from Within (Pocket Books, 1991)

Managing Petty Tyrants

★ React with kindness (they are in pain)

★ Do not take actions personally★ Try humor (lighten the mood)★ "Be That Which Nothing Can Take

Root In"★ Offer feedback and

encouragement★ Learn from them; let them make

you better

SAD PANDA

Characteristics

★ Chronic Downer★ Won’t Stand Up ★ Avoids Work

SAD PANDA

Solutions

★ Workarounds★ Stay Positive!★ Recognition

Characteristics

★ Chronic Downer★ Won’t Stand Up ★ Avoids Work

GRINCH

Characteristics

★ Agent of Chaos★ Passive-

Aggressive★ Eccentric

GRINCH

GRINCH

Solutions

★ Pragmatic Relationship

★ Professional Boundaries

GRINCH

Characteristics

★ Agent of Chaos★ Passive-

Aggressive★ Eccentric

Characteristics

★ Negative Bonding★ Peter Principle★ RIP (Retired in Place)

PIED PIPER

Characteristics

★ Negative Bonding★ Peter Principle★ RIP (Retired in Place)

Solutions

★ Don’t Join In★ Protect Pride★ Create Deterrents

PIED PIPER

Characteristics

★ Ladder Climber★ Narcissistic★ Machiavellian

WUNDERKIND

WUNDERKIND

Characteristics

★ Ladder Climber★ Narcissistic★ Machiavellian

Solutions

★ Recognize YOUR power

★ Don’t be Manipulated

★ Deliver!

Characteristics

★ Status Seeker★ Railroads Decisions★ Elevate themselves★ Otherworldly

SHADOWY FIGURE

Characteristics

★ Status Seeker★ Railroads Decisions★ Elevate themselves★ Otherworldly

SHADOWY FIGURE

Solutions

★ Sell Your Ideas★ Don’t be Intimidated★ Concede Partial

Credit

Recap: Recognize the Signs

★ Repetitive complaining without offering solutions

★ Making everything about them

Recap: Recognize the Signs

★ Not taking personal responsibility when things go wrong

★ Always in conflict with someone else

Recap: Strategies for Success

★ Find humor: What are some ways you can turn a serious situation into a funny one?

★ Petty tyrants can be great teachers, but don't get ensnared

Recap: Strategies for Success

★ If you have to walk away, take the highroad out

★ Have compassion, but don't enable

★ Redirect the conversation

Recap: Strategies for Success

★ Keep interactions short and to the point

★ Try not to show emotion or share personal details

Recap: Strategies for Success

★ Allow uncomfortable moments of silence

★ Let the situation dissipate, lose energy

Find and observe people who always seem to avoid drama; ask them how they do it

Dr. Merideth Ferguson

You Can't Leave It at the Office: Fallout from Toxic Workplace Environments

Define your threshold. (and mean it)

Thanks!

Rich Harrison & Meghan Hatalla