How you feel about your job hinges on many factors, from the company culture to coworkers, compensation, and work environment. Sometimes, the biggest challenge isn’t the workload or office politics—it’s your boss.
A great leader can help you do your best and grow as an employee. Unfortunately, not everyone does this well; some are even downright toxic. A toxic boss can make your work life a waking nightmare and have a profound impact on your happiness, mental health, job satisfaction, and career trajectory.
"Toxic bosses do not consider the well-being or the professional growth of their employees," says Dr. Paul Losoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Bedrock Psychology Group.
How your boss leads can sometimes mean the difference between loving or dreading your job. Knowing how to spot the red flags of a toxic boss can save you a lot of stress. When you recognize these signs, you can take steps to protect yourself, your well-being, and your career.
Keep reading to learn more about the red flags of a toxic boss and what you can do to cope if the office leader is more of a tyrant than a trusted mentor.
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Signs of a Toxic Boss
Experts have proposed several definitions of toxic leadership. According to one definition, key characteristics include self-centeredness, ethical failures, incompetence, and emotional volatility.
Poor bosses can run the gamut from bullies to micromanagers to poor communicators. So, what are some of the top red flags of a toxic boss? A few signs to watch for include:
They Constantly Criticize Others
Constant criticism is a hallmark of toxicity and dysfunction. Instead of offering helpful, constructive feedback, it might feel like your boss can only point out what you do wrong. They offer little in the way of instruction or support, but always have something negative to say about what you or your coworkers are doing.
Such criticism can chip away at your self-esteem and make you doubt your ability to perform your job well. In some instances, a toxic boss might use such criticism to belittle people. They tear others down as a way to protect their position at the top of the hierarchy.
“A toxic boss uses their power to control employees in an unhealthy way with manipulation, scare tactics, or bullying behavior,” says Dr. Jolie Silva, PhD, a clinical psychologist and chief operating officer at New York Behavioral Health.
Remember, a good boss gives well-rounded feedback. Supportive leaders help build you up instead of tearing you down.
They Take Credit for Others’ Work
Imagine pouring all of your energy into a project only to have your boss take all the credit. This kind of behavior is a glaring red flag of a toxic boss. When someone does this, they aren't just using your hard work to boost their own career—they are also erasing your contributions and hurting your ability to grow professionally.
Research suggests that credit claiming hurts employee motivation and performance. It can be particularly frustrating when it’s your boss taking credit for your work, since you might feel unable to speak up about this kind of mistreatment.
Stealing the credit for other people's work indicates a lack of integrity. It's a sign that your boss values promoting themselves more than they care about the success of the people who keep the entire organization afloat.
This behavior also contributes to a toxic work culture where you feel unappreciated and undervalued. It's demoralizing and makes it hard to put your heart and soul into your work.
A great boss knows that successful team members are the mark of a great leader. They are eager to recognize your efforts, reward your success, and allow you to enjoy the spotlight.
They Don’t Respect Their Team
Healthy work relationships are rooted in respect and trust. If your boss consistently shows a lack of respect for you or others in the workplace, it's a sign of a toxic dynamic that can undermine your happiness and ability to work productively.
Signs of poor respect include dismissing your ideas, interrupting you when you speak, or showing a general disregard for your input. Such behavior is often a sign that they don't value you as a team member.
They Micromanage Every Detail
Great bosses know how to offer mentorship and guidance while still allowing people to work independently. Micromanaging, on the other hand, is often a sign of mistrust and can often be a red flag of a toxic boss.
"Micromanaging is often considered toxic because it shows a lack of trust in employees, strips away autonomy, and creates an atmosphere of constant scrutiny or criticism," Dr. Losoff explains. "This can heighten anxiety, diminish motivation, and prevent employees from developing their full capabilities."
When you feel like your boss is always hovering over your shoulder and checking up on every minor detail of your work, it makes it hard to perform your best and utilize your expertise. At worst, it can create a sense of anxiety and intense pressure that becomes utterly overbearing.
They Play Favorites
Toxic bosses may play favorites within the team, blatantly giving preferential treatment to certain employees based on their own biases. This can create a tense dynamic that pits employees against one another.
Signs that your boss might be playing favorites include giving their favorite employees:
- First dibs on desirable tasks or projects
- Excessive praise, recognition, or positive feedback
- Access to information that others are excluded from
- Better working conditions, more flexible schedules, or other benefits
- Social privileges outside of the workplace
- Greater visibility during meetings
Unequal treatment also undermines your ability to access different opportunities to advance your career. When you aren't part of your boss's "inner circle," you might feel ostracized, demotivated, and even discriminated against.
They Don’t Listen and Won’t Accept Feedback
Another red flag of a toxic boss is the inability (or outright refusal) to listen and accept input. When leaders ignore feedback, shut down ideas, or make decisions accepting other ideas, it's often a sign of authoritarian leadership.
Such leaders have a "my way or the highway" approach to management. They tend to rule teams using fear and intimidation and aren't willing to listen to team members' ideas.
They Are Disengaged and Lack Initiative
Sometimes, people find themselves in leadership roles even though they lack the skills or initiative to take the helm and guide the group toward their goals. These bosses can be toxic simply because they are not interested in giving direction or taking responsibility.
If your boss is laissez-faire to the point that they seem to have checked out and delegated virtually all of their responsibilities to others, it can create a dysfunctional situation.
A hands-off approach may work for groups where each person has a strong sense of direction, doesn’t need a lot of feedback, and is an expert in their role, but it can create a toxic situation when roles are unclear, and no one is sure what they are supposed to be doing.
In such cases, team members may end up engaging in power struggles to fill in the void left by a disengaged boss.
Impact of a Toxic Boss
Having a toxic boss isn't just a minor annoyance–it's something that can have ripple effects throughout your professional and personal life, including your health and well-being. You're less likely to feel satisfied with your job, and dealing with a toxic supervisor can eventually start to grind away at your confidence and self-worth.
"Toxic leaders are damaging to mental well-being because of the impact they can have on a number of areas important to the working experience of an employee. From their feelings of value and competence to their perception of their social standing and connection with colleagues," explains Ella Washington, PhD, an organizational psychologist and professor at Georgetown University.
Toxic bosses tend to result in:
- High employee turnover
- Poor job satisfaction
- Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues
- Increased burnout
- Terrible work-life balance
- Weak office morale
- Reduced productivity
- Impaired reputation
- Legal issues
Dr. Ella Washington, PhD
Toxic leaders contribute to an environment where an employee doesn't see the best in themselves, feels inadequate, or has unrealistic expectations placed upon them— such as working until they burn out. All of these extremes can cause feelings of insecurity and instability leading to mental unwellness.
Toxic bosses take a toll on individuals, but their damaging behavior can also be costly for businesses and organizations. Poor leadership weakens productivity, impairs progress, and can lead to costly mistakes.It can also create legal issues for businesses if these bosses engage in harassment or discrimination.
Strategies for Dealing With a Toxic Boss
So, what can you do to cope with a toxic boss? While you might be tempted to quit, that isn't always necessary (or possible). Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to deal with this type of boss:
Document Everything
The first step is to start keeping detailed records of your interactions. In particular, be sure to note instances of unfair criticism, credit-taking, or inappropriate behavior. Having a record of what's happened can be invaluable if you decide to escalate the issue to HR or higher management.
Set Clear Boundaries
Establishing boundaries with a toxic boss is an important step for protecting your mental health. Be polite when communicating your limits, but make it clear that you are not willing to engage in unethical behaviors or deal with work-related tasks during your non-working hours (unless it's a true emergency).
Suggest Solutions
Dr. Washington suggests looking for ways to propose changes to your boss's toxic behavior.
"For example, if your toxic boss struggles with clarity around new projects, ask to implement pre-meetings for major projects where you can get your questions answered. If your boss struggles with micromanaging, suggest using a shared document to maintain visibility on key information," she suggests.
Have an Honest Conversation
If that doesn't seem feasible, Dr. Washington recommends having an honest conversation with your boss.
"You don’t want to be accusatory, instead, focus the conversation on the things that may be lacking in your experience," she says.
For example, you might need more consistent feedback on your performance or prefer it in a different format.
"Whatever the case may be, clearly identifying the gap and recommending a change that you would like to see is a strong way to start the conversation around issues that may be impacting your wellness," Dr. Washington explains.
Stay Professional
This can sometimes be really tough, but it's important to maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Don't gossip about your employer's behavior with others. Stay calm during interactions and avoid lashing out when your emotions are high.
Talk to HR
Sometimes, there’s only so much you can do on your own. If your boss's behavior becomes intolerable or has crossed the line into harassment, discrimination, or abuse, it's important to report it to your company's human resources department.
"I would encourage the person to speak to another trusted professional at their job, like human resources personnel or another supervisor, about what they have experienced with their boss," Dr. Silva suggests.
Be sure to provide your documentation of the specific instances and behaviors that have caused the problem, and be sure to articulate the impact these actions have had on your mental state and well-being.
Consider Other Options
If you've tried other solutions and haven't found a resolution, it may be time to consider some other options. Quitting might be an option if you are comfortable looking for a new job and have the financial cushion you need to leave your current job safely.
"If the boss's behavior and work climate does not change, I would ask the person to weigh the pros and cons of staying in that position and encourage them to consider exploring other job opportunities,” Dr. Silva says.
Another option is to talk to your employer about other opportunities that might be available within your organization. Transferring to another department or shifting to a role that involves less contact with the toxic individual might help you feel safer and happier.
Toxic Boss Examples
Sometimes it’s easy to spot a toxic boss, but there are times when such behaviors might be harder to detect–especially if they engage in manipulative behaviors, are covert narcissists, or gaslight their employees to cover up their destructive actions.
Some examples of toxic bosses include:
The Boss Who Watches Every Move You Make
A boss who tries to control every aspect of your work, micromanaging you to the point that it feels like you can't do anything without asking for their input. You might feel like they are always checking up on you. They demand frequent updates and give you excessively detailed instructions for even the most basic, minor tasks.
Micromanaging can be considered a toxic behavior in leaders and often gives employees the impression that they are not trusted, reliable, or proficient at their job.
— DR. JOLIE SILVA, PHD
Such behaviors leave you feeling like you have no autonomy at work—and may even make you feel like you can't make decisions on your own.
The Boss Who Ignores Your Contributions
Another example of a toxic boss is one who assigns work but then presents the results as their own. They don't bother to acknowledge your work and ignore the contributions that you've made. They end up looking good to others while leaving you ignored.
This can be devastating–not only for your self-esteem but also for your ability to advance your career and gain professional recognition.
The Boss Who Is Never Around
One example of a more subtle form of toxic behavior is what you might refer to as the "ghost" boss. This boss tends to dump work on your lap, promises to be there to help or offer support, but fails to respond to questions or requests for assistance.
This type of laissez-faire leadership can be confusing, particularly if it involves a situation where you need more support and mentorship to get the task done. You might feel ignored, and their failure to engage ends up making you look bad when things don't go according to plan.
Takeaways
Chances are that you will encounter several types of bosses over the course of your career. Some will be great, but having a toxic boss can be a major professional obstacle. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to navigate this challenge and maintain your professionalism—even when you are faced with toxic behavior.
Start by paying attention to their behavior and be aware of red flags that can indicate a problem. Be sure to document your experiences in case you need to discuss your concerns with your company's HR department. Other steps, like setting clear boundaries, communicating clearly, and caring for your own needs, can help ensure that your career stays on track despite your boss's bad behavior.
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