At work we encounter a huge range of working styles. Fortunately, diverse ideas and approaches can lead to successful outcomes and colleagues can elevate us to be our best selves. At the other end of the spectrum, toxic colleagues damage the working environment and can make life generally miserable.
I’ve had my fair share of toxic colleagues. Early on I tried adapting and placating, hoping to avoid their wrath. I wasn’t empowered to confront or report the conduct. Over time, I’ve learnt about their characteristics and the damage they do and why toxicity still exists at work to hone my skills for dealing with toxic colleagues.