We have all watched the person turn off enthusiasm or spoil our enjoyment of work. These people, though few in number, erode workplace culture and are a curse to HR professionals given the distractions they create and the work they create.
LinkedIn, HR sites, business magazines, and job boards all address the impact toxic coworkers have, how to avoid them, and when you have no other choice, how to deal with them. All very well, but somehow they keep showing up and are generally well installed in the workplace. So how do you recognize them? What traits do they have? Are you sure you have one? Try the quiz below, apply the metrics and then you will have no doubt if there is a Grinch in your midst.
Choose a person in your workplace who you know well and who can rate and verify your toxicity level.
Punctuation:
0 I don’t detect this at all
1 I have noticed a hint of this, but it is largely the exception
2 I observe this quite often
3 I watch this all the time
1 Does not listen and in fact does not want to listen
2 Pressures and generally harasses others
3 He is unapproachable, remote, lonely, suspicious, and moody
4 Shows aggression when questioned, challenged, or threatened
5 React and show hostility for the slightest reason
6 lacks of emotional intelligence
7 It is inconsistent, unpredictable, erratic and unfocused.
8 Play with people and enjoy the intrigue.
9 Harasses, intimidates, threatens, undermines, ridicules and is petty
10 Withholds information and misrepresents
11 It catches others, it feeds on their mistakes. Tell stories, gossip and suck at top management
12 Bosses, engages in constant criticism and personalizes problems.
13 He lies, covers himself and is not to be trusted
14 Is often sarcastic, dismissive, condescending, and / or condescending.
15 Treats others with contempt, disrespect, rudeness
16 He runs with his own agendas and promotes himself
17 Divides, denigrates, insults, spreads rumors, undermines (often the boss) and models discord
18 He’s opportunistic and selfish
19 Operate on the belief that they are always right
20 Create and maintain tension in the workplace and enjoy the fact
TOTAL SCORE:
SCORE BANDS:
0 – 10 You enjoy a colleague free from toxic behaviors
11-20 You have a colleague who is occasionally toxic
21 – 30 Has a colleague who is frequently toxic
31 – 40 You have an established and experienced toxic colleague
41 + You have a chronic and serial toxic colleague wreaking havoc
