Behaviours & Traits
The personality trait most linked to toxic leadership
What is narcissism? (grandiosity, entitlement, lack of empathy)
One visible sign of a toxic environment
What is high turnover, stress leave, or grievances?
The Link between organizational culture and toxic leadership
What are values and accountability systems?
An example of demanding leadership misinterpreted as toxic
What is enforcing strict PT standards fairly but being perceived as harsh?
One coping strategy for subordinates under toxic leaders
What is peer support, documentation, resilience-building?
This phrase means pleasing superiors while abusing subordinates
What is "kiss up, kick down"?
One invisible sign of a toxic environment
What is fear of reporting, disengagement, or silence?
The phrase describing gradual acceptance of unhealthy behaviours because nothing catastrophic happens.
What is normalized deviance?
Why public correction can be problematic
What is humiliation and corrosion of trust (if done unfairly)
An organizational tool that can reveal toxicity
What is 360-degree-feedback or climate surveys?
What are grandiose self-importance and lack of empathy? (Other: entitlement, need for admiration)
A way toxic leaders manipulate climate surveys
What is intimidating subordinates into positive responses or suppressing dissent?
Why Hierarchy protects toxic leaders
What is silence at middle ground? (superiors see results, subordinates fear reprisal)
Example of demanding leadership misinterpreted as toxic
What is strict PT (enforced fairly, perceived as harsh)
Why organizations sometimes protect toxic leaders
What is short-term results, personal connections, or fear of rocking the boat?
A toxic trait defined by over-control, blind obedience, and stifling initiative.
What is authoritarianism?
The emotional "wake" toxic leaders leave behind
What is oppression, humiliation or diminished self-worth?
One way the CAF's mission-first ethos can enable toxicity
What is output focus? (vs process focus)
Outcome differences between toxic and demanding leaders
What is building resilience and trust vs erosion of both over time?
The risk of only focusing on individual resilience
What is systemic toxicity? (persists bc problem is misdiagnosed)
These leaders inspire loyalty while hiding abuse, making them harder to detect.
What are charismatic narcissists?
Why units under toxic leaders can still "look successful"
What is incorrect metrics? (short-term performance/results masking long-term damage to morale, trust and retention)
Kenneth Williams' term for hidden costs of toxic behaviour
What is "trust tax"?
Why distinction is critical in CAF context
What is trust required in unlimited liability? (toxicity breaks trust and risks mission failure)
A systemic CAF strategy to mitigate toxicity leadership
What is embedding character-based assessments, accountability mechanisms, and/or authentic leadership practices?