How do you define AND identify a toxic leader?

Perhaps their are many threads open based on this, but I guess you must have been reading my mind SSG Chris H. I myself was going to put something like this as thread because I myself never used the word Toxic Leader in my time of service.

I did find this PDF that may be interesting or not to read about such leaders if they do exist:

http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/dclm/Toxic_Leadership.pdf

We have had several topics in reference to your topic/question, I would suggest searching those out on RP and you will find some interesting response and solutions mentioned.

Good luck and enjoy.

The best way to address "Toxic Leadership" is to talk about it respectfully. The Article and some of the comments here so far point to the commander. But, it states Toxic Leaders still perform well and manage to get promoted none the less.

If its talked about openly in a community event. Then the unit is encouraged to talk whether privately or in a group setting; every complaint should be looked into with sincerity. Sure this could take some time but, if you get 3 or 4 complaints about the same person (SGT SFC LT MAJ etc). That He or She has a bad attitude or did this or that. Almost can guarantee something is probably going on.

If talking about doesn't work. Implement a "peered out" sort of system through AKO or what have you. Something that is anonymous that tracks a current roster of all members against a units MTOE. Make it accessible for every SM to be able to fill out a peer evaluation or report what they believe is an infraction into this system. Once a month or quarter have these records looked at by a third party. A Party who isn't potentially a part of the "winning team" or even near the same post. If a certain person, when the system is reviewed, is coming up more than most or has been given derogatory complaints then they are formally investigated and immediately removed from current position pending investigation results.  

I can speak from a Junior Enlisted point of view only, but for me having a system that I could anonymously input events/peer evaluations like this would be way better for me. Only because I would feel if im spotted talking to person x and everyone knows person x is the investigations or EO what have you, well im a rat and I might as well get ready for the suck.

I thought I would add a reference to this topic of discussion.  I saw some pretty good articles sited already.  When I was in the Academy I remembered reading some litature on Toxic Leadership. 

COL George E. Reed From Military review, July-August 2004, pages 67 to 71

I am with you on that. I have ran into E6s that were E6 when i joined the Army. How can I go from E1 to E6 and you havent changed ranks yet. looks to me like someone needs to get out of the way so those of us moving up can.

On another side of that I think the tightening up of standards, changes to NCOES and promotion requirements are going to start taking care of that. We are starting to weed out the weak and you can no longer hide beihind the fact that your orginization has to have you because they need to be ready to deploy.

I think the NCO Corps is just going to get stronger as the NCOs that really want to be here start stepping up and forcing the ones that don't out.