Brenda NeckvatalBad behavior shows up for a lot of reasons. Stress. Immaturity. Ego. Poor judgment. Sometimes it is impulsive. The reason it becomes a leadership problem is simpler.
Brenda NeckvatalThe reason toxic behavior keeps showing up on your team is not that you missed it. It’s because you kept working around it.
Brenda NeckvatalSome employees do not challenge you to improve the decision. They challenge you to change the power dynamic.
Brenda NeckvatalManipulation at work rarely looks like manipulation. It does not announce itself. It does not raise its voice. It does not trip obvious alarms. It slips in quietly, dressed as cooperation, concern, or helpfulness. By the time leaders realize what is happening, the damage is already baked into the culture.