Posted on Feb 9, 2014
"Toxic" Leadership.....Is a Leader truly Toxic or do you just not like the way they lead?
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<p>All too often, we hear the word "Toxic" thrown around at a leader (Officer, Warrant Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer) when someone doesn't like the way the act. But what truly makes them toxic? Is it because they yell a lot? Because they make use a curse word or two? Because they are demanding and enforce standards and discipline? Is it because they are loud? Or maybe it's because we don't like the way they are treating us and we think they are the problem?</p><p><br></p><p>Now, I am not saying that there are not Toxic leaders out there, because I am sure there are....but what I am saying that it seems to be today's buzz word that anyone who gets their feelings hurt to say "my leader is Toxic, that is why they are acting the way they do."</p><p><br></p><p>Maybe their leadership style is different than what we prefer or are accustom too, but think back to the peace time Army before OEF and OIF and those same "loud" / "Toxic" leaders maintained a standard and discipline that allowed us to rapidly conduct two wars at the same time. Back in those days Soldiers stood at Parade Rest to NCOs out of respect and courtesy for the respect for the position earned. Heck, junior NCOs stood at parade rest to senior NCOs. Soldiers stood at attention to officers. When junior Soldiers passed seniors, they gave a proper greeting (unit motto or simply "good morning, Sir).</p><p><br></p><p>Maybe we should look back at a lot of what the Army and Military has lost by utilizing the word "Toxic" against leaders who simply try to do the right think and keep the Military the profession it is.</p>
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Standards
Toxic Leadership
Standards Toxic Leadership
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 40
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Well, when a commander of a company stands in front of his unit and says, I quote, " I am not here for you, I don't care about you. I am here for myself and that is all that matters". I believe that what he is saying is bound not to have people like them. And in the two months he has been commanding this unit has more than once proved it in thought and deed.
I remember when you used to be able to say what was on your mind. When it was ok to hurt someone's feelings, the thought was it would make you stronger. I am sure it did, but some of it wasn't acceptable.
There are toxic leaders out there. Just seems no one wants to take the time to actually look into the issue and do something about it
I remember when you used to be able to say what was on your mind. When it was ok to hurt someone's feelings, the thought was it would make you stronger. I am sure it did, but some of it wasn't acceptable.
There are toxic leaders out there. Just seems no one wants to take the time to actually look into the issue and do something about it
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LTC (Join to see)
Wow, a commander really said that. I would offer too that that young man doesn't fully understand the privilege of command. That young man should be removed and offered to find opportunities in the civilian world.
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It depends on the circumstance. We as human beings, i feel anyway, tend to push fault of the other individual. Discipline is absolutely a necessity. I feel new recruits(especially younger gen) are often self entitled. The old days seem somewhat more organized as today many new recruits are very complacent. BTW my dad was in the army in 1981 i think. Ive only been in but 6 years. we have both seen changes in structure. So I only know how to base my opinion on stories from "old timers". I have had my fair share of being yelled at however the person i am most frustrated is myself. I have been yelled at beyond reason one time. but the rest i think could have been avoided had i been doing the right thing.
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I had an OIC several years ago who was the embodiment of a toxic leader: surly, arrogant, standoffish, narcissistic, and cocksure. All hallmarks of an insecure and untested leader. This officer lasted a year at the command and about eight months as our OIC. We had a command climate review not long after he took over and he got slaughtered on it. Apparently, he was the only one whom this surprised. He actually sat everybody down and gave a nearly two-hour rebuttal of everything people complained about after the fact.
He got transferred elsewhere not long after that, perhaps because of that survey. One of his worst habits, and he was in more than a few, was his reluctance or downright intransigence when it came to listening to or even seeking out the council of his senior NCO corps, the Chiefs Mess in Navy parlance. I said right after he transferred, "If he listens to his Mess, he has a chance. If he doesn't, he won't last a year." Should've put money on the table. He lasted eight months then got detached for cause.
It's not like me to air that kind of dirty laundry, but I'm illustrating a point: the most underrated quality of any leader anywhere, and this has been proven time and again, is the ability and the willingness to LISTEN. I'm as guilty of not doing it enough as anybody. Nevertheless, we as NCOs should make it a goal to better our listening skills. Hell, my wife tells me that to this day! Additionally, as leaders, we need to be humble, i.e., not so full of ourselves, that we're unapproachable or, God forbid, start believing our own publicity.
He got transferred elsewhere not long after that, perhaps because of that survey. One of his worst habits, and he was in more than a few, was his reluctance or downright intransigence when it came to listening to or even seeking out the council of his senior NCO corps, the Chiefs Mess in Navy parlance. I said right after he transferred, "If he listens to his Mess, he has a chance. If he doesn't, he won't last a year." Should've put money on the table. He lasted eight months then got detached for cause.
It's not like me to air that kind of dirty laundry, but I'm illustrating a point: the most underrated quality of any leader anywhere, and this has been proven time and again, is the ability and the willingness to LISTEN. I'm as guilty of not doing it enough as anybody. Nevertheless, we as NCOs should make it a goal to better our listening skills. Hell, my wife tells me that to this day! Additionally, as leaders, we need to be humble, i.e., not so full of ourselves, that we're unapproachable or, God forbid, start believing our own publicity.
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The concept of "toxic leadership" is definitely not a term to toss around lightly. To me a toxic leader is one that the entire organization (or at least the majority of it) does not respect. This could be for a variety of reasons, but the main thing is that so many people refuse to respect the leader.
There is a quote that I vaguely remember. At the risk of butchering it, it says that when an entire organization is failing, the smart thing to do is replace the leader.
There is a quote that I vaguely remember. At the risk of butchering it, it says that when an entire organization is failing, the smart thing to do is replace the leader.
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Sir,
I agree that many leaders have been called toxic, but may not portray toxic traits. In other instances, I think these leaders who do have toxic traits go out of there way to cover it up, and are not necessarily toxic in all matters or towards all soldiers in their command. I believe leaders in my command are toxic to me, but not to many otheres within the command. Other members of the command have also noticed a biased from these individuals towards me. I am the type of soldier that speaks up and questions leadership when I feel something is unjustified, unethical, or blantly against regulations. This commonly gets me labeled as a troublemaker by poor leaders. Good leaders, however, apreciate these things being pointed out so they can appropriate measures to correct them. It is possible to differentiate between bad leaders with toxic traits and toxic leadership, but in the end do we want either in the military?
I agree that many leaders have been called toxic, but may not portray toxic traits. In other instances, I think these leaders who do have toxic traits go out of there way to cover it up, and are not necessarily toxic in all matters or towards all soldiers in their command. I believe leaders in my command are toxic to me, but not to many otheres within the command. Other members of the command have also noticed a biased from these individuals towards me. I am the type of soldier that speaks up and questions leadership when I feel something is unjustified, unethical, or blantly against regulations. This commonly gets me labeled as a troublemaker by poor leaders. Good leaders, however, apreciate these things being pointed out so they can appropriate measures to correct them. It is possible to differentiate between bad leaders with toxic traits and toxic leadership, but in the end do we want either in the military?
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<p>Being a great leader and a toxic leader are two different things. Great leaders stand up for their Soldiers, enforce standards and give proper respect. In return, Soldiers, without even knowing it, will maintain their discipline and emulate their leader. Toxic leaders will DEMAND respect by yelling, cursing and degrading Soldiers. In return, their Soldiers will be undiscipline, have no respect and not give a crap about standards. </p><p> </p><p>It all starts with diginity and respect. We all want it and your Soldiers deserve it. </p>
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<p>Sir,</p><p><br></p><p>I like your view on this. However, I do believe that there is a serious problem with toxic leaders in the Army today. I think it is due to the fact that the "toxic" leaders that you were referring to that are not really toxic are not in the majority and we lost focus of standards in order to fill the ranks. As the wars dragged on the standards sunk and we allowed people into the military that really had no business being in the military to begin with. As the ranks opened due to demand we promoted them without training them to be leaders. They are now higher ranked officers and NCOs that never really truly learned how to become a leader. Now you have people who are meeting the standards and who you want to be in the military fighting for our freedom not receiving the proper mentorship. I always hear about mentorship but I very rarely see it. Only twice have I received any type of counseling. Those were initial counselings when I began a new position.</p><p><br></p><p>The big question is how to we separate who is really toxic and who is not. After that how do we get them out of the service so we can have the best force possible that meet the standards?</p>
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Agree, there are leadership styles, traits, personalities, command climate etc...that come in all different shapes, sizes and forms. We absolutely need to steer away from those who just disagree with the way one does business, leads etc... Everyone has their place in time to lead, follow or get out of the way. I don't think that was the intent originally posed by senior leaders when asking about the influences of toxic leadership. I believe that the original intent was to assess and ascertain whether or not this type or style of leadership was a contributing factor to suicide. If it trickles over to other aspects fine, but lets not lose sight of what the original discussion was about.
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LTC (Join to see)
Great points sir, thanks for contributing. I would go even a bit farther to say that different jobs require different leadership styles. My techniques as a BN XO were different than those when I was a Battery Commander. As an XO,I was the "200 lbs Guerrilla" that keep the staff in check and battery commanders / XOs focused so the Battalion Commander could command. As a Battery Commander, I let my XO be the hammer and I simply commanded. Each job requiring a different method.
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When you are the Bn XO and nobody to include the Bn Commander stands up and says something about you during your Hail and Farewell, you are probably a toxic leader. In my experience what most people call a "toxic" leader is someone that enforces the standards across the board and someone doesn't like it
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LTC (Join to see)
SFC Dominguez....absolutely agree. In the past decade that the Army has been at war, it seems that we have been far more accepting of relaxed standards and people are using that they are not deployed, so why do they have to be so strict. Even during my most recent tour, those who were deployed were not always doing the right thing and had to be corrected. Like you said, when they had standards enforced on them, they didn't like and used the current buzz word of "toxic" versus accepting their faults. Thanks for the comments.
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<div class="Lt">Two great reads</div><div class="Lt"> </div><div class="Lt"><a class="d-s ot-anchor jp" tabIndex="0" href="http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA431785" target="_blank"><u><font color="#0066cc">http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA431785</font></u></a></div><div class="Lt">http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/dclm/Toxic_Leadership.pdf</div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/dclm/Toxic_Leadership.pdf" target="_blank"></a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">ÉÆ3ë#â¶7ôÚ%®cøï*Wiù8¸lN)÷kûûgÞöúLï*Û'²f×ýlþNX²lï×íOv±,/Ù~£P®?}S¹ËÒ·§>ýnaÕõOË6ìÚSÚ¿Hü£WÞjÔ¯f×ì|¤Ë¸Áôê¹ ®ä¾(çÞ2WUNÚÆæã§,Ä:aÒ²=N³C×/ýø£ºB®C)âó¢EîGÆ/Êÿ{5áWº0/@ ¦¥Ç
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