The Challenge:
Toxic Leadership Behaviors 

PERSEREC-PA-22-11  |  OPA Report No. 2022-121 

Leaders set an organization’s tone, and they can model behaviors that an organization wants to incentivize. However, when leaders engage in toxic behaviors, they compromise their employees’ well-being and the long-term health of their organization. As a senior leader you have the opportunity to promote healthy behavior that will help protect your organization against insider threat incidents that may arise from disgruntlement and dissatisfaction. 

Toxic behavior has clear consequences for people and organizations, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy to spot. Sometimes, employees “kiss-up-and-kick-down” – they respect authority figures but mistreat their team members and subordinates. 

This site describes five toxic leadership styles from the employee’s perspective, and lists behaviors and indicators that require your attention and intervention.