What Toxic Workplaces Taught Me About Leadership
The Problem:
Toxic workplaces often don’t look toxic from the outside. But inside, they are held together by fear, confusion, and competition. For many of us, these environments are where we first learned about leadership, by watching what not to do.
In toxic cultures, communication is unclear. Expectations shift without warning. Blame is passed down the chain. Vulnerability is punished. And those in charge are often too detached or too defensive to notice. These environments don’t just hurt people, they warp their understanding of what leadership is supposed to be.
The Perspective:
Toxicity teaches you that leadership is more than a job title. It’s how people feel in your presence. It’s how well they understand their purpose. It’s whether or not they feel safe to speak.
Many of the most emotionally intelligent leaders we know are the ones who’ve survived bad leadership. They’ve seen how damaging ego, neglect, or silence can be, and they’ve made a choice to do things differently. They ask better questions. They listen more. They use their role to create clarity and care.
The Solutions:
Build self-awareness. Know your patterns and their impact.
Lead with questions, not just answers.
Create psychological safety by modeling vulnerability.
Advocate for culture, even when it’s uncomfortable.
70% of the variance in team engagement is explained by the manager.
76% of South Africans say poor leadership is a major reason for low morale.
Employees who feel psychologically unsafe are 3x more likely to underperform.
