Pulse June 2016 | Page 30

TOXIC BOSSES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26) OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT To become a better leader, one must learn to build trust. “When you look at today’s world, business is based on successful relationships. It takes trust and mutual respect to create relationships, both of which are corrupted by toxic leadership,” Hilling says. “Toxic bosses keep everyone off-balance and disrupt trust within the team. When a company is not built on trust, it’s impossible to create lasting relationships.” As a way to help a toxic boss realize his or her lack of leadership, Kolb recommends assessing performance and having an honest conversation with poor managers in terms of expectations on improving leadership skill sets. “As Jim Collins would say, find a way to help them ‘face the brutal facts.’ One tool that I have found works well is a 360degree feedback evaluation from various levels of individuals who interact with the leader. A person cannot change if they do not see what they are doing and how it is affecting others. In rare cases, someone will not care. However, I think human beings for the most part care about how they come across to others,” she says. Bordeaux-Johlfs agrees that it’s important to allow open and healthy conversations. “Address the concerns with clear examples and allow for a good healthy discussion. As perception is reality, they must understand how their behavior affects the group and, ultimately, the success of the business,” she says. “Toxic bosses keep everyone off-balance and disrupt trust within the team. When a company is not built on trust, it's impossible to create lasting relationships.” — CELESTE HILLING, CEO and Co-Founder, Skin Authority 28 PULSE ■ June 2016