Navigating Toxic Terrain: Insights into Workplace Dynamics

I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the Mindset. Heartset. Reset. show about navigating workplace dynamics with Dr. Rowshanak Hashemiyoon and Jacqueline Way.

I was invited to speak about workplaces and leadership that feature narcissistic behaviours. The purpose was to equip listeners with the ability to spot features of toxicity and how to avoid contributing to it.

We covered the following topics:

• Defining toxicity in work environments

• Exploring the characteristics that contribute to a toxic workplace, with

• an eye on both systemic issues and individual behaviors

• Narcissistic and unconscious leadership

• How leadership styles rooted in narcissism or a lack of self-awareness influence others’ behaviours.

• The role of shame and toxic dynamics in the workplace

Before you take a look, I need to warn you. I have interesting cheek to eye inflammation going on and the strange video setting on Streamyard is making me look particularly puffy. If you can ignore that and tune in, I hope you get something useful from the conversation.

I’ll also be speaking at the Speak Up Summit held by Vanguard Voices on June 13-14 to challenge beliefs about leadership and narcissistic leadership. This 24 hr summit will focus on the development of psychologically safe workplaces and will feature world class speakers and researchers. You can get early bird tickets here.

For paid subscribers: I have a few free passes to give away to paid subscribers who can attend this summit and who feel it will be valuable. Email me to get your free pass before they disappear!

What did you learn from this conversation? What was affirmed? What challenged you? Comment below!

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Hack narcissism and support my work

I believe that a common threat to our individual and collective thriving is an addiction to power and control. This addiction fuels and is fuelled by greed - the desire to accumulate and control resources in social, information (and attention), economic, ecological, geographical and political systems.

While activists focus on fighting macro issues, I believe that activism also needs to focus on the micro issues - the narcissistic traits that pollute relationships between you and I, and between each other, without contributing to existing injustice. It’s not as exciting as fighting the Big Baddies yet hacking, resisting, overriding and deprogramming our tendencies to control others that also manifest as our macro issues is my full-time job.

I’m dedicated to helping people understand all the ways narcissistic traits infiltrate and taint our interpersonal, professional, organisational and political relationships, and provide strategies for narcissism hackers to fight back and find peace.

Here’s how you can help.

• Order my book: The Little Book of Assertiveness: Speak up with confidence

• Support my work:

  • through a Substack subscription

  • by sharing my work with your loved ones and networks

  • by citing my work in your presentations and posts

  • by inviting me to speak, deliver training or consult for your organisation