Part One: Four Types of Toxicity That Could Be Lurking Among Your Team

In part one of this two-part post, we’ll look at two types of toxicity that could be derailing your team.

Toxicity is a fancy word for anything that is pervasive and harmful to oneself or a group of people. Toxicity comes in all shapes and sizes, which can make it extremely hard to detect. Below, we’ll explore two of the most common forms.

Complaining

Complaining is a form of venting that doesn’t result in productive processing or beneficial outcomes.

As a leader, I have had members of my own team walk into my office to talk about someone or something that is either confusing or frustrating them within their area of work. As they talk, I listen, occasionally interjecting to ask clarifying questions. In doing so, I've heard the apology time and time again, "I'm sorry for complaining." To which I usually respond, "You're not complaining, you're processing." Here's the difference:

As a leader, when the people on your team talk to you about what's on their heart and mind, please don't be quick to see it as complaining. The fact that they're coming to you means they trust you to help them process what they're going through. This is an amazing opportunity! In that moment, you have the privilege of providing a space for someone to relieve their stress by speaking their feelings and thoughts out loud. Additionally, that moment can also serve to help both of you gain clarity, perspective, and understanding regarding the situation at hand. It's especially productive when that person walks out of your office with a vision for how to move forward. This is what processing looks like.

On the other hand, complaining usually happens among team members. For example, Joe walks over to Jake’s office in order to vent about a previous meeting that "wasted his time." Likewise, Jake starts telling Joe something he's frustrated about, and before you know it, both of them begin to spiral into complaining and gossiping about individuals and the organization. This is a form of toxicity that happens when your team feels as though they can't talk to their leader openly about their frustrations or concerns. Even worse, this also happens as a result of your team feeling as though there is nothing their leader can do or is willing to do about their frustrations or concerns.

If you don't create a space for your team to process in a productive way, they will spiral into toxic complaining among themselves.

Competition

Some may say that there's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition. I'm not so sure I agree.

I believe there's a fine line between healthy competition and unhealthy contention. One that, unfortunately, many are not quick to catch until things have gone too far.

What I mean by contention, is not disagreements or the ability to challenge one another's perspectives or behaviors in a productive way as to foster accountability and growth. Instead, what I mean is hostility, disharmony, and rivalry; a type of conflict that has deep roots. This kind of contention does not produce collaboration, it undermines it; it tears productivity and relationships to shreds.

When an ounce of unhealthy competition rears its head, it must be addressed directly with and between the parties involved, and then tangible steps must be made to ensure that this type of prideful toxicity does not cause a team to fall.

Conflict among a team of diverse personalities and perspectives is to be expected now and again, but conflict gone unchecked leads to contention that can quickly create a team of rivals.

So how do you think your team is doing? Do you think these two types of toxicity are lurking among your team? If so, if they are not dealt with in the correct way, they will create an unhealthy team culture.

Here’s another question for you: How would you define your team culture right now? Is it thriving, average, or unhealthy?

Our free online assessment can help you with an initial evaluation toward discovering where your team culture is now, compared to where you desire it to be.

Cheering you on!
-Nicole Lucas

Check out part two of this post next Monday.

Until then, if you’d like more help in this area, I’m here for you! Contact me to get started with a free 30-minute call.