Posted on Aug 29, 2021
What can I do at my level to fix a toxic environment?
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I have been trying my unit for little over 2 months now and the moral and work environment is so low. My main concern is the health and welfare of my soldiers first. Most of then have already talked to me about going to IG because they feel that the unit doesn't care about them as humans. This unit is by far the worst I have seen with a fraternization problem, disregards to profiles and other regulations, time taken from family members because of poor planning or organization. I can't stop a soldier from going to IG but I also feel like I can't properly help the soldiers. I know some time you have to suck it up but when something is wrong I cant just sit back if there is a way to fix it.
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 15
RP serves many needs, but soliciting answers to questions such as this must be at the top of the list. Thank you for reminding us.
I had a couple of minor incidents as a butter bar and was ill equipped to handle them. We spent a helluva lot of time in OCS learning weapons and tactics, but little about leadership. Those were lessons that would come with experience (usually the consequences of mistakes) and observing others. The fact that you've come here looking for answers gives me the impression that you haven't had any luck garnering wisdom and support from your superiors (or that you've hidden the problem from them - don't!)
Toxicity grows in quiet. You must acknowledge it and deal with it openly and honestly. "What we have here is a failure to communicate" is oft quoted from the movie Cool Hand Luke because it is so relevant.
There's little more I can offer without knowing more, however I will offer one last comment that may or may not apply. Your job as a leader is to provide your subordinates with the training, equipment, and clear direction they need to perform their mission effectively. They will work for you just as hard as you work for them. If they perceive that you are failing in your duty, the result may be perceived as a toxic environment
I had a couple of minor incidents as a butter bar and was ill equipped to handle them. We spent a helluva lot of time in OCS learning weapons and tactics, but little about leadership. Those were lessons that would come with experience (usually the consequences of mistakes) and observing others. The fact that you've come here looking for answers gives me the impression that you haven't had any luck garnering wisdom and support from your superiors (or that you've hidden the problem from them - don't!)
Toxicity grows in quiet. You must acknowledge it and deal with it openly and honestly. "What we have here is a failure to communicate" is oft quoted from the movie Cool Hand Luke because it is so relevant.
There's little more I can offer without knowing more, however I will offer one last comment that may or may not apply. Your job as a leader is to provide your subordinates with the training, equipment, and clear direction they need to perform their mission effectively. They will work for you just as hard as you work for them. If they perceive that you are failing in your duty, the result may be perceived as a toxic environment
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you CPT Jack Durish . Because of the fraternization with in my unit it is hard for me to address my direct COC. However all my soldiers in my squad have been discard as being unwanted soldiers due to UCMJ actions from years ago. Instead of NCOs stepping up and being a leader or a mentor they have been viewed as high school popular kids. Simular to your last comment you stated.
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CPT Jack Durish
SGT (Join to see) - You are receiving some other good responses here and I'll defer commenting again until we see how the discussion trends
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You fix what you can, as you can. But realize, take it to heart that you cannot fix the entire situation. Take care of your soldiers. Listen to them, show that you care and take the steps that you normally would were it any other unit. You make sure that you are part of the solution rather than the problem.
If there is fraternization you do your best to make sure that it is not happening with any of your soldiers. If a soldier under you has a profile you make sure that they know how to handle that situation and to speak up when the boundaries of it are stepped over. You do your best as far as planning going but understand you cannot fix the entire unit. Document, document, document and have your soldiers do the same. Sometimes you don't need to stop a soldier from going to the IG, you need to encourage it.
If there is fraternization you do your best to make sure that it is not happening with any of your soldiers. If a soldier under you has a profile you make sure that they know how to handle that situation and to speak up when the boundaries of it are stepped over. You do your best as far as planning going but understand you cannot fix the entire unit. Document, document, document and have your soldiers do the same. Sometimes you don't need to stop a soldier from going to the IG, you need to encourage it.
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SGT (Join to see)
I totally agree with you and exactly feel and do everything in this comment. Just wish there was more I could do sometimes
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SSG Brian G.
SGT (Join to see) - We do what we can. But you are hampered by your rank and position within your unit.
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SSG Bill McCoy
I agree EXCEPT in the matter of encouraging anyone to go to the IG. The last thing you want to hear is, "Did you tell (or encourage) him/her to go to the IG," because an NCO is expected to try to solve the issue THROUGH his/her COC. If the SGT thinks that's the only way to solve an issue, especially fraternization, then the most he should do is to not DISCOURAGE a visit to the IG. He should tell someone who says they ARE going to the IG to, "... make sure you have your ducks all lined up," but never say, "Yeah, good idea. Go see the IG," even if he/she attempted ot solve it within the COC.
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You take care of your troops. You take the bullshit sabot rounds coming their way. If they want to go to IG, let them.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thats all I can do at this point. My soldiers have told me multiple times that they have never felt like they mattered until I got there.
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MSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) then you have already made a difference and effected change. Good on you.
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I am not kidding when I add: PRAY to the other excellent responses here.
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It depends on how far up the chain is toxic. If only in company unit, a letter to the Battalion commander could work (when sending/taking it in be sure you show cc: to IG). I did that and got immediate results without it ever getting to the IG.
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First step is to identify the real problems. Soldiers like to complain about things, but that doesn't mean it isn't something that needs solutions. Here would be my approach. You have been there a bit, long enough to see how they perform, so I would sit down in a face to face counselling session with each soldier and tell them your expectations, what you have seen has their strong points and weaknesses, and to get their opinion of what is wrong, both personally and professionally, and what they think should be done. Make sure they understand that counselling is not punitive. I assume that your people are E-4 or below and that the UCMJ is Article 15. That should be in their local file if it has been under two years, I would read those just to have a bit of background. I would talk to my Platoon Sgt, First Sgt. and CSM about the situation and their opinion of problems and solutions.
That's the easy part. Then you need to list what is under your control and what isn't, and prioritize the things that need fixed. Pay, Promotion and Family issues should be at the top of the list. You can't fix a pay problem, but you can make sure that soldier gets to finance and make sure his problem is fixed, if he hasn't promoted, get with the readiness NCO and find out why. If they need schools, again, hit the Readiness NCO up and get them scheduled.
We each have to develop our method of leading, but make sure they understand the mission, make sure that they have been trained to actually perform it, then inspect or evaluate when it's done. If they don't know their jobs, then it's your job to teach them. You don't have to be a hard ass to be strict, but it is easier in the long run to enforce the rules as long as they are enforced evenly across the board.
That's the easy part. Then you need to list what is under your control and what isn't, and prioritize the things that need fixed. Pay, Promotion and Family issues should be at the top of the list. You can't fix a pay problem, but you can make sure that soldier gets to finance and make sure his problem is fixed, if he hasn't promoted, get with the readiness NCO and find out why. If they need schools, again, hit the Readiness NCO up and get them scheduled.
We each have to develop our method of leading, but make sure they understand the mission, make sure that they have been trained to actually perform it, then inspect or evaluate when it's done. If they don't know their jobs, then it's your job to teach them. You don't have to be a hard ass to be strict, but it is easier in the long run to enforce the rules as long as they are enforced evenly across the board.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I'll add one further comment that several of us have made over the years. To be a good leader, you have to have the balls to bet your stripes (or bars, in my case) to fix things that are definitely wrong. I don't mean this as an excuse to be insubordinate, but if you have real issues that your local chain isn't addressing, you have to have the guts to take it up the chain. I will not tell you that these things will always turn out well, but my experience really has been positive over the long haul.
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Depending on how high the rot goes, you could try talking to either the BN CSM (risky) or the chaplain (less risky but with limited scope).
In either case, as a conscientious NCO your biggest challenge will be resisting the temptation to sink to the level of those around you and stop caring because nobody else does. The second biggest challenge will be to resist the temptation to side with your troops in anything and everything. Just because you are in a toxic environment it does not mean that you are not responsible for the good order and discipline of your subordinates. Disrespect, insubordination and insolence will be rife but you cannot allow infractions like these to pass without response.
This is when being a good NCO can really suck: when you feel a troop is justified in expressing dissatisfaction but you have to crack down because he expressed it in a way that crosses the line.
As a Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Army you have a responsibility to your troops, yes. But you also have a responsibility to your Unit and your Nation. Remember what you swore to defend and why the army exists at all. Then act accordingly. Yours is the face you have to look at in the mirror every morning. If you find yourself avoiding your own eyes, you are in serious trouble.
In either case, as a conscientious NCO your biggest challenge will be resisting the temptation to sink to the level of those around you and stop caring because nobody else does. The second biggest challenge will be to resist the temptation to side with your troops in anything and everything. Just because you are in a toxic environment it does not mean that you are not responsible for the good order and discipline of your subordinates. Disrespect, insubordination and insolence will be rife but you cannot allow infractions like these to pass without response.
This is when being a good NCO can really suck: when you feel a troop is justified in expressing dissatisfaction but you have to crack down because he expressed it in a way that crosses the line.
As a Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Army you have a responsibility to your troops, yes. But you also have a responsibility to your Unit and your Nation. Remember what you swore to defend and why the army exists at all. Then act accordingly. Yours is the face you have to look at in the mirror every morning. If you find yourself avoiding your own eyes, you are in serious trouble.
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It isn't about them. It is about the unit and the mission. When your soldiers take more pride in the unit than their individual wants you will have something
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SGT (Join to see)
See I don't totally agree with that. How can a soldier take pride in their unit when the unit has turn the back on them when they are in a time of need when they need a leader? With out soldiers who care there is no unit to support any mission. NCOs are the back bone of the army but the soldiers are the arms and legs and with out a strong arms or legs there is no future.
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If you think you have found Toxic leadership then by now you should know where and at what level that is happening at. That is the level you would need to work on to stop the problems that exist. Now i must tell you at this point i am a person that is hard to believe Toxic Leadership exist. Now if you truely have a issue of Toxic Leadership you will generally find a lack of communications at some level in the COC that is the hill you have to climb.
Examples is TEAM LEADER /SQD LEADER This level is pretty easy to fix by talking to those individual Leaders and if you get a lot of flak go to the Platoon SGT and have a chat. If it is a the Platoon Level Then you have to approach the Platoon SGT if that becomes a stopper then get the Platoon leader involved on and on up the COC. Now if you find that it seems you are fighting a loosing battle you may just want to let the Soldiers go to the IG.
Now with that said it has been misfortune to find out a large part of what has the Nick-Name (toxic leadership) is in fact A communication problem between the Soldiers and The Leadership that does not Garner IG level involvement. It does require communications between the most junior leaders and the next level of the COC. Some times it is just a lack of a posted Training schedule. Good luck and Tread Wisely.
Examples is TEAM LEADER /SQD LEADER This level is pretty easy to fix by talking to those individual Leaders and if you get a lot of flak go to the Platoon SGT and have a chat. If it is a the Platoon Level Then you have to approach the Platoon SGT if that becomes a stopper then get the Platoon leader involved on and on up the COC. Now if you find that it seems you are fighting a loosing battle you may just want to let the Soldiers go to the IG.
Now with that said it has been misfortune to find out a large part of what has the Nick-Name (toxic leadership) is in fact A communication problem between the Soldiers and The Leadership that does not Garner IG level involvement. It does require communications between the most junior leaders and the next level of the COC. Some times it is just a lack of a posted Training schedule. Good luck and Tread Wisely.
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SFC Robert Walton
SGT (Join to see) - I am not saying give up however i am not telling to go bat shit crazy either you need to attack this with tack and professionalism when you feel you have a Mission and not enough communications was provided to accomplish it that is why you have a PLT SGT and PLT LDR get with them ask questions and for guidance to complete that Mission request.
If the Soldiers decide to go to the IG don't try to stop them however do not encourage them either this could be seen as you instigating a hostile environment. If you find and area where someone is suppressing the communications bring it up to them.
The COC is designed to be your support Group Make them do their Job so you can do yours. Never go over the top and never become condescending or arrogant. Good Luck. let us know how thing turn out or if you could use more advice.
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If the Soldiers decide to go to the IG don't try to stop them however do not encourage them either this could be seen as you instigating a hostile environment. If you find and area where someone is suppressing the communications bring it up to them.
The COC is designed to be your support Group Make them do their Job so you can do yours. Never go over the top and never become condescending or arrogant. Good Luck. let us know how thing turn out or if you could use more advice.
i
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SSG Bill McCoy
SFC Robert Walton your adivce isn't bad, but we all know there are some leaders above us who like the, "No wave management," style and they can easily hurt a junior NCO (like the SGT) with a bad evaluation simply because his escalation up the chain causes him (the Rater) problems - even deserved problems.
A lot of those issues can be addressed, IF the unit's 1SG is the type to periodically speak to his subordinate NCO's to get a pulse reading. Then, the SGT could tactfully address issues like, "How fraternization is hurting the unit by affecting subordinates." I wouldn't name names, just discuss the issues I see as hurting the unit's mission.
It's often difficult for a SGT or even SSG to read how much interest a 1SG has or doesn't have regarding problem solving. I had a SGM who held poker parties with lower ranked NCO's. Those of us who didn't coddle up to him, were his targets of choice, so if the 1SG is one of those who are fraternizing at a personal level, efforts to discuss problems with him are already going to be a problem. The "politics" of any COC can be problematic which is why it's important to document issues.
As for the SGT's comments about being set-up to fail ... a good method can be to email the next person above and ask for CLRRIFICATION of instructions, or cite that the instructions/orders he has are vague and need clarified SO THAT THE MISSION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED TO THE UNIT's SATISFACTION.
A lot of those issues can be addressed, IF the unit's 1SG is the type to periodically speak to his subordinate NCO's to get a pulse reading. Then, the SGT could tactfully address issues like, "How fraternization is hurting the unit by affecting subordinates." I wouldn't name names, just discuss the issues I see as hurting the unit's mission.
It's often difficult for a SGT or even SSG to read how much interest a 1SG has or doesn't have regarding problem solving. I had a SGM who held poker parties with lower ranked NCO's. Those of us who didn't coddle up to him, were his targets of choice, so if the 1SG is one of those who are fraternizing at a personal level, efforts to discuss problems with him are already going to be a problem. The "politics" of any COC can be problematic which is why it's important to document issues.
As for the SGT's comments about being set-up to fail ... a good method can be to email the next person above and ask for CLRRIFICATION of instructions, or cite that the instructions/orders he has are vague and need clarified SO THAT THE MISSION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED TO THE UNIT's SATISFACTION.
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SFC Robert Walton
SSG Bill McCoy - Thank you for your response, Now let me say i am not just speaking to the, we also have regulations being ignore, or slighted, in addition to profile problems, and Soldiers free time. So there is a more than one issue here each one having its own rules and issues to deal with. Using E-mail to communicate with the COC was unheard of in my day. A large amount of people didn't even have computers or Cell phones, and if you did was considered a untrusted and spineless way to communicate. One of the first things i noticed is they young Sgt. is now in Korea overseas assignment have a tendency to have less free time than state side + free time will get better as organization gets better. AT this point we do not know who is involved in the fraternization so i sighted examples not individuals, There is such a thing as being used to the High speed unit SF and moving to a unit that is a little different paced which can appear that there are problems that need fixed that can not, Based on the unit mission so i spoke in general and treading lightly, SGT. Simpson does not appear to be a freshly promoted SGT. So he has idea what he is getting into.
Profiles can be touchy the Commander has the ability and authority to amend them through his channels, something the rest of the COC may not be aware of. Either way this post and last are my opinion. JMTC
Profiles can be touchy the Commander has the ability and authority to amend them through his channels, something the rest of the COC may not be aware of. Either way this post and last are my opinion. JMTC
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SSG Bill McCoy
SFC Robert Walton - Well stated response Sarge, and I get your points, and every unit is different with a variety of problems and issues. I agree about email - it can be viewed as a spineless and can cause trust issues. Sometimes however, that's the surest way to DOCUMENT concerns although in the military environment, I understand your view. We had no such thing when I was in, but in the corporate world, it became a necessary tool to keep SOME managers in check when they'd be sent a reply, or a report verifying that what they said (regardless of properness) to do, was done. Or, "This is what I understand to be your directive; please advise if this is incorrect."
As for doing stuff like that in the Army, unlike the "dog-eat-dog" corporate politics, I don't have a good enough view of how that would work out. Probably not too well from what you apparently know.
As for profiles, I could write a book on my youngest son's experience at JBLM (Ft Lewis) and how poorley his Company treated wounded/injured warriors. Eventually, his PL, CO and 1SG were (reportedly) ll releived for cause.
In the SGT's case ... if he's not a freshly promoted guy, then I hope he can overcome the issues he's facing. He certainly seems to have his soldiers' wellbeing at heart.
As for doing stuff like that in the Army, unlike the "dog-eat-dog" corporate politics, I don't have a good enough view of how that would work out. Probably not too well from what you apparently know.
As for profiles, I could write a book on my youngest son's experience at JBLM (Ft Lewis) and how poorley his Company treated wounded/injured warriors. Eventually, his PL, CO and 1SG were (reportedly) ll releived for cause.
In the SGT's case ... if he's not a freshly promoted guy, then I hope he can overcome the issues he's facing. He certainly seems to have his soldiers' wellbeing at heart.
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