Letting Go of the Toxic Label
“Toxic leader” has become a buzzword in the Army, but does everyone mean the same thing when they use this term? Probably not. By calling someone a "toxic leader,” we’re labeling the person instead of the inappropriate behavior that he or she is demonstrating. The term also highlights overtly negative or malicious behaviors while missing other leader behaviors that contribute to a negative environment, such as incompetence or self-promotion.
It’s important to have a common language. Therefore, the Army is moving to the term “counterproductive leadership.” This term is more comprehensive than the label of toxic leadership and emphasizes observable behaviors rather than the leader’s intent or the behaviors’ contagious effects. The term also spans a broader range of leader behavior from abusiveness to incompetence that contributes to a negative environment.