Company on the couch: Unveiling toxic behavior in dysfunctional organizations

Abstract

In positioning the "Company on the Couch," management consultants have increasingly called attention to toxic behavior in dysfunctional organizations. This article addresses how the mismanagement and failure to accurately and timely identify people problems in organizations is in itself a form of toxic leadership. Via two consultations presented in the form of case studies, this article illustrates how complex webs of organizational dysfunction are frequently an outgrowth of mild, unchecked toxicity in the workplace. Recommendations and initiatives are provided to better prepare managers for timely and accurate toxin detection and handling. © 2008 Sage Publications.