In this article we examine such traits exhibited in the workplace that affect our overall mental Well-being, and tips to break the cycle. In many cases when we come across certain people with the above traits or habits, it could either be inconsistent or unintentional. But in some cases, there also may be many colleagues or leaders with such habits that are intentional, consistent, and forceful.

Toxic habits not only spoil the work environment, but it also begins to affect the targets’ moral, self-esteem, happiness quotient and so on. People with toxic behavior may have different individual patterns exhibited via their actions and behavior.


Prominent characteristics of people exhibiting toxic patterns:

  • Communication pattern or style is ill-mannered, aggressive, and often mistake focused
  • They will often be seen bullying personally or professionally
  • Self-acclaimed achievers of excellence
  • Controlling and dominating or prefers to put pressure stating they have strong connection or bonds with the key people in the organization. May keep stating (in various ways), they are the favorites of the key resources.
  • Feedback style is to hurt and harm others than to correct and help
  • Jealousy or unhealthy competition are their constants
  • Discounting your thoughts and opinions, making one feel invaluable
  • Subtly jabs or puts you down often and show it as an unintentional act
  • They will keep counting the favors they did to you and how they care about you
  • They are seasoned liars and manipulators


If you observe toxic behavior traits, they have a cycle, which keeps repeating and if you are the victim, they will not allow you to look beyond your errors or incompetence which they have blown out of proportion. Also, their denial is so strong that it is hard for them to look at their inappropriateness. Toxic behavior traits in an individual could develop due to many causes like, experience of personal trauma which is unhealed, bad influences, lack of understanding or insensitivity towards other’s state of mind, unreasonable comparisons, and their own inefficiencies to lead effectively.

To deal with such people or environment around, one can take deliberate measures such as - Break the cycle by looking beyond your own mistakes and loopholes. Observe their patterns in every situation or event i.e., when they behave extremely good, extremely bad, how they change from good to bad and bad to good, how they cover-up their mistakes etc.

Look into their eyes when you talk and reply to them. Be firm and confident, when answering them, keep your evidence handy, if you are aware they have a habit of blaming for their misdoings. To prove themselves right, if they yell, scream, cry or make you feel guilty for doubting their good intentions, let them finish talking, maintain eye-contact, keep calm and ask relevant question to counter their claims and revelations. Set healthy boundaries and stay strong on not compromising those boundaries. This helps to stop getting in the trap again. Surround yourself with positive people, which helps to distinguish between good and bad choices and take right decisions.

Toxic behavior traits are often unknown to the user, hence the self-awareness and subsequent process for correction and change in them is either slow or negligible. They generally target people with low confidence, self-esteem and those who are vulnerable. Hence it is suggested that the victim take ownership of their health and well-being. One must also keep a check of their own toxic behavior traits by ensuring to keep an open mind, developing positive relationships over the years, listening to feedback closely and reflecting on their own behavior.