Three signs you are creating a toxic environment in your team

No one has more influence on the atmosphere in a team than its leader. Yet while all managers would like to work peacefully and create a friendly atmosphere, sometimes they can quite unwittingly create a toxic work environment and encourage unhealthy behaviours. This can lead to an inferior performance of the entire team, poorer collaboration and higher employee turnover. Here are three signs that indicate something in your team might be wrong.

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1. You are creating unhealthy competition among subordinates

As Entrepreneur.com states, competition can be a great motivator, but only up to a certain point. Encouraging employees to compete with one another at all costs can lead to tension and mistrust within a team. Unhealthy competition often causes people to prioritise personal accomplishments over team goals, which, of course, has a negative effect on team cohesion and overall productivity. If you can see rivalry rather than mutual support among your subordinates, it may be time to do something about the situation.

2. You value toxic behaviour and an unhealthy approach to work

If your team is rewarded for behaviour that is inappropriate or outright destructive towards other colleagues – for example, manipulation, gossiping or aggressively pursuing personal interests at the expense of others, this can be a serious problem. Toxic individuals may produce short-term results, but in the long run they lower team morale and discourage others from working together. If you see such employees moving up the ranks without reflecting sound values, you are setting a bad example for the rest of the team.

3. No transparent communication within the team

When employees don't know what is happening in the team, they feel lost and insecure. Lack of open communication can lead to the spread of assumptions, mistrust, and an overall deterioration of the atmosphere. Transparent communication is key to building trust and giving the team as a whole a clear direction towards a common goal. If there is a lack of openness in your team and you feel your subordinates are confused or uninformed, this might suggest it would be a good idea to improve the way you share information within the team.

 

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Article source Entrepreneur.com - website of a leading U.S. magazine for entrepreneurs
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