7 things toxic leaders do on their first day

Do you have the ambition to become a toxic leader? Make sure you follow these tips to make a really bad impression on your new team on your first day.

Several months ago, a friend of mine was let go by her employer because they thought there "wasn't a good fit."   

She had happily worked at that organization for several years, but everything changed when she got a new supervisor.   
 
To say that they didn't click is an understatement. When I asked her what had happened, she told me about her supervisor's first day.

Oh boy, was I glad I was sitting down for this story!  

Here are the top 7 things a toxic leader would do on their first day with a new team:  

.🔺 Enter the office without a proper introduction and wait for your team to come to you to introduce themselves  

🔺 Be motivated by personal ambition and be open about that. Say something like, "I've been chasing this position for years, and now that I finally got it, I feel freaking good about myself."  

🔺 Tell several (not all) team members that "things are going to change around here" without explaining what you mean.  

🔺 Do not schedule a team meeting so nobody knows what's happening.  

🔺 Make it apparent that you feel a click with one of the team members and have a two-hour-long one-on-one meeting with that person. Be impatient with the remaining team members.  

🔺 Disappear from the office for an hour and a half without your team knowing where you are.  

🔺 When one of your team members treats you to homemade pastry, throw it away in front of them.  

Listen. This actually happened! And it only got worse! I was shocked. 

This manager's lack of awareness resulted in a toxic working environment from day one, where my friend didn't feel seen, heard, or understood. And she felt very unsafe. She left the organization a few months after. 

This situation emphasizes why I chose to become a Leadership Coach. The effect leaders have on people is enormous. I'm on a mission to turn new leaders into self-aware creators of positive impact. 

Have you ever experienced toxic leadership? And how did you handle that? 

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