Question:

Respond with 150 words with 1 direct question.

Toxic leaders have an adverse effect on the overall morale of an organization. They create an environment where employees detest going to work as they know what awaits them upon their arrival. Toxic leaders are often overlooked if results are produced for their organization as outlined in the article Toxic Leadership (2014). As results are the bottom-line, if a subordinate submits a complaint the benefit of the doubt is often given to the offender until an act so aggress occurs or multiple complaints are filed and cannot be overlooked and investigated.

Military leaders often receive the toxic leader label. Tthe military is an organization which is mainly results oriented, failure is not an option and as our military is highly trained with dedicated service members. Individual egos play a significant role into the toxicity of an individual, throughout the average career you'll likely encounter a leader who demonstrates behaviors which are toxic as 83 percent of military personnel reported they witnessed toxic leadership (Gallus, Walsh, van Driel, Gouge, and Antolic, 2013). Power is primarily through position, when individuals are assigned to leadership positions their level of control if different from the civilian arena as you have total control over your subordinate's life on and off duty depending on the leadership position.

A survey was conducted to explore how toxicity from Military leaders effect the attitudes of their subordinates on job satisfaction and overall commitment (Gallus, Walsh, van Driel, Gouge, and Antolic, 2013). The findings of this survey concluded toxic leaders create a climate within the organization where subordinates learn disrespect and mistreatment as acceptable leadership traits. The exposure of toxic behaviors has a profound effect on junior leaders who are susceptible to copying those behaviors as they have less experience and lack the leadership training to understand those behaviors should not be tolerated (Gallus, Walsh, van Driel, Gouge, and Antolic, 2013). It is important to educate leaders on the proper techniques of being an effective leader especially the junior leaders as they are young and inexperienced. A change in the military culture will assist in the elimination of toxic leaders, leader must be educated to understand performance and people are equally important (Gallus, Walsh, van Driel, Gouge, and Antolic, 2013). A credo memo in essences is the organizations goals and philosophy for how it will achieve their objectives and the methodology for accomplishment (Bidlack Creative Group, 2015). The publication of this credo memo from senior leaders to their subordinates will assist in the culture change and the education of those junior leaders on how their organization will treat their people as accomplish the mission as equals.

References

Bidlack Creative Group, (2015, October 14). Bidlack strategy sheet no. 7 developing a credo statement, how to get everybody thinking on the same page. Retrieved from http://www.bidlack.com/strategy/#credo

Gallus, J., Walsh, B., van Driel, M., Gouge, M., and Antolic, E., (2013). Intolerable cruelty: A multilevel examination of the impact of toxic leadership on U.S. military units and service members. Military Psychology, 25(6), 588-601. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/mil0000022

Harper, M. (2014). Toxic leadership: why is it allowed to exist. Inspire. Retrieved http://greatleadersinspire.com/toxic-leadership-why-is-it-allowed-to-exist/