Do you know how to recognize and sucessfully manage these 10 toxic personality styles in the workplace? Do you exhibit one or more of these styles as a professional? Learn more by reading this post.
We have all met and struggled with one of these personality styles in the workplace. Heavens we might be one of these. Here are ways to identify the different styles, understand the underlying emotional needs of each style and then manage them in a healthy fashion.
Here are the ten styles and three indicators for each. Think of these as coping behaviors that have been learned over a long period of time as a way to meet particular emotional needs even though the behaviors are unhealthy. Recognizing that these are coping behaviors may permit you to be more empathetic towards the person and allow you the psychological space necessary to work with them. This a summary and really version of how to work with these personalities. You can reach out for more information if interested.
The Narcissist: This individual is excessively self-centered, seeks constant attention and admiration, and lacks empathy towards others.
Talks about themselves excessively
Expects special treatment or recognition
Lacks empathy towards others
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking validation and admiration from others
Protecting their fragile self-esteem by putting others down
Maintaining a sense of control and power in their interactions with others
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Set clear boundaries and expectations for their behavior
Focus on their strengths and contributions to the team
Provide feedback and recognition in a balanced and specific way
The Perfectionist: This person has an obsession with perfection and can be overly critical of themselves and others. They may struggle to delegate tasks and often take on too much work.
Sets excessively high standards for themselves and others
Struggles to delegate tasks
Overly critical of mistakes
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to feel competent and successful
Trying to avoid failure and criticism
Feeling a sense of control by setting and achieving high standards
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Encourage them to delegate tasks and let go of some control
Set realistic goals and expectations
Provide positive feedback for effort, not just results
The Passive-Aggressive: This personality type may express their negative emotions indirectly, such as through sarcasm or avoiding confrontation. They may also hold grudges and use subtle means to get revenge.
Expresses negative emotions indirectly (e.g. sarcasm, sulking, gossip)
Holds grudges or seeks revenge
Avoids direct confrontation
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Avoiding direct confrontation to protect their self-esteem
Expressing anger or frustration indirectly to avoid negative consequences
Seeking to feel in control by using subtle means of manipulation
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Address conflicts directly and assertively
Encourage them to express their opinions and feelings openly
Provide positive feedback for constructive communication
The Control Freak: This individual has a strong need to control everything around them and may struggle to delegate tasks or trust others to do things properly.
Has a strong need to oversee everything
Struggles to delegate tasks or trust others
May interfere with others' work
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to feel in control of their environment and others
Trying to avoid uncertainty or surprises
Feeling a sense of competence by overseeing every detail
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Establish clear roles and responsibilities for each team member
Encourage them to delegate tasks and trust others
Provide positive feedback for flexibility and adaptability
The Micromanager: Similar to the control freak, this personality type has a strong need to oversee every detail of a project and may interfere with their subordinates' work.
Overly involved in details
May second-guess or revise the work of others
Struggles to trust others to do tasks properly
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to feel in control of the project or task
Trying to avoid mistakes or failure
Feeling competent by micromanaging every aspect of the work
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Provide clear instructions and expectations for the project or task
Encourage them to step back and let others take ownership
Provide positive feedback for trust and delegation
The Bully: This person may use intimidation, threats, or other forms of aggressive behavior to control and dominate their coworkers. They may also gossip or spread rumors.
Uses intimidation, threats, or aggression to control others
Gossips or spreads rumors
May belittle or ridicule others
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to feel powerful and dominant over others
Trying to avoid feeling vulnerable or powerless
Feeling in control by intimidating or belittling others
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Set clear boundaries and consequences for negative behavior
Encourage open and honest communication in the workplace
Provide support and resources for improving behavior
The Drama Queen/King: This personality type tends to exaggerate small problems and create drama in the workplace. They may also seek attention and sympathy from others.
Exaggerates minor issues
Creates unnecessary drama
Seeks attention and sympathy from others
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking attention and validation from others
Trying to avoid feeling ignored or insignificant
Feeling in control by creating drama and getting others to focus on them
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Avoid giving attention to unnecessary drama
Encourage them to focus on solutions, not just problems
Provide positive feedback for constructive communication and collaboration
The Passive: This individual may have difficulty expressing their opinions or standing up for themselves. They may also avoid confrontation and struggle with assertiveness.
Struggles to express opinions or ideas
Avoids confrontation
May agree to do things they don't want to do
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to avoid conflict or negative consequences
Trying to feel accepted and liked by others
Feeling in control by avoiding taking risks or standing up for themselves
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Encourage them to express their opinions and needs
Provide support and resources for developing assertiveness skills
Provide positive feedback for taking risks and standing up for themselves
The Know-It-All: This person may have an inflated sense of their own intelligence and may dismiss others' opinions and ideas. They may also monopolize conversations.
Monopolizes conversations
Dismisses others' ideas or opinions
May be resistant to feedback or correction
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to feel intelligent and knowledgeable
Trying to avoid feeling inadequate or wrong
Feeling in control by dominating conversations and asserting their opinions
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Encourage them to listen actively to others' ideas and perspectives
Provide positive feedback for collaboration and openness to feedback
Challenge them to consider different viewpoints and ideas
The Pessimist: This personality type tends to see the negative in every situation and may struggle to find solutions to problems. They may also bring down the morale of their coworkers.
Tends to focus on the negative
Struggles to find solutions to problems
May bring down the morale of their coworkers
Emotional needs individual is trying to meet with these behaviors.
Seeking to avoid disappointment or failure
Trying to feel prepared for negative outcomes
Feeling in control by anticipating the worst-case scenario.
Strategies to deal with such individuals.
Encourage them to focus on solutions, not just problems
Provide positive feedback for creativity and innovation
Challenge them to consider alternative perspectives and outcomes
Hope you find this information beneficial. Remember that we are all trying to do our best to meet our emotional needs and some of us have not learned the best way to meet these needs in a healthy manner. May you lead with understanding and empathy in your sphere of influence. If you need professional development in this area please reach out for help.
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