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Toxic Workplace!: Managing Toxic Personalities and Their Systems of Power Hardcover – Illustrated, April 20, 2009
Purchase options and add-ons
“The day this person left our company is considered an annual holiday!”
THIS QUOTE, taken from Kusy and Holloway’s research on toxic personalities, echoes the frustration and confusion that come from working with or managing an extremely difficult person. Just one toxic person has the capacity to debilitate individuals, teams, and even organizations.
Toxic Workplace! is the first book to tackle the underlying systems issues that enable a toxic person to create a path of destruction in an organization, pervading others’ thoughts and energies, even undermining their very sense of well-being. Based on all-new research with over 400 leaders, many from the Fortune 500 list, this book illustrates how to manage existing toxic behaviors, create norms that prevent the growth or regrowth of toxic environments, and ultimately design organizational communities of respectful engagement.
Kusy and Holloway’s research reveals the warning signs that indicate a serious behavioral problem and identifies how this toxicity spreads in systems with long-term effects on organizational climate, even after the person has left. Their two-year, cutting-edge research study provides very specific actions that leaders need to take to reduce both the intensity and frequency of toxic personalities at work. No other book provides this menu of options from a systems perspective with practical relevance in real work situations.
You’ll learn how to identify the toxic personality and describe the leader reactions and approaches that typically don’t work. Toxic Workplace! provides hands-on approaches that work with research-based strategies at the individual, team, and organizational level.Toxic Workplace! will provide new insights on how leaders lead, how organizational cultures sustain themselves, and how teams deal with toxic personalities.
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherJossey-Bass
- Publication dateApril 20, 2009
- Dimensions6.1 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
- ISBN-109780470424841
- ISBN-13978-0470424841
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Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
"The day this person left our company is considered an annual holiday!"
THIS QUOTE, taken from Kusy and Holloway's research on toxic personalities, echoes the frustration and confusion that come from working with or managing an extremely difficult person. Just one toxic person has the capacity to debilitate individuals, teams, and even organizations.
Toxic Workplace! is the first book to tackle the underlying systems issues that enable a toxic person to create a path of destruction in an organization, pervading others' thoughts and energies, even undermining their very sense of well-being. Based on all-new research with over 400 leaders, many from the Fortune 500 list, this book illustrates how to manage existing toxic behaviors, create norms that prevent the growth or regrowth of toxic environments, and ultimately design organizational communities of respectful engagement.
Kusy and Holloway's research reveals the warning signs that indicate a serious behavioral problem and identifies how this toxicity spreads in systems with long-term effects on organizational climate, even after the person has left. Their two-year, cutting-edge research study provides very specific actions that leaders need to take to reduce both the intensity and frequency of toxic personalities at work. No other book provides this menu of options from a systems perspective with practical relevance in real work situations.
You'll learn how to identify the toxic personality and describe the leader reactions and approaches that typically don't work. Toxic Workplace! provides hands-on approaches that work with research-based strategies at the individual, team, and organizational level.Toxic Workplace! will provide new insights on how leaders lead, how organizational cultures sustain themselves, and how teams deal with toxic personalities.
From the Back Cover
“The day this person left our company is considered an annual holiday!”
THIS QUOTE, taken from Kusy and Holloway’s research on toxic personalities, echoes the frustration and confusion that come from working with or managing an extremely difficult person. Just one toxic person has the capacity to debilitate individuals, teams, and even organizations.
Toxic Workplace! is the first book to tackle the underlying systems issues that enable a toxic person to create a path of destruction in an organization, pervading others’ thoughts and energies, even undermining their very sense of well-being. Based on all-new research with over 400 leaders, many from the Fortune 500 list, this book illustrates how to manage existing toxic behaviors, create norms that prevent the growth or regrowth of toxic environments, and ultimately design organizational communities of respectful engagement.
Kusy and Holloway’s research reveals the warning signs that indicate a serious behavioral problem and identifies how this toxicity spreads in systems with long-term effects on organizational climate, even after the person has left. Their two-year, cutting-edge research study provides very specific actions that leaders need to take to reduce both the intensity and frequency of toxic personalities at work. No other book provides this menu of options from a systems perspective with practical relevance in real work situations.
You’ll learn how to identify the toxic personality and describe the leader reactions and approaches that typically don’t work. Toxic Workplace! provides hands-on approaches that work with research-based strategies at the individual, team, and organizational level.Toxic Workplace! will provide new insights on how leaders lead, how organizational cultures sustain themselves, and how teams deal with toxic personalities.
About the Author
Mitchell Kusy, PhD, is a consultant and full professor in the graduate program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University. A 2005 Fulbright Scholar in international organization development, Dr. Kusy consults globally in strategic planning, leadership development, 360-degree feedback, organization development, and designing organizational communities of respectful engagement. He is a visiting professor at several universities internationally.
Elizabeth Holloway, PhD, is a consultant and full professor in the graduate program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University. A Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology and Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Holloway has had more than 25 years’ experience as a practitioner, educator, and consultant with organizations, groups, and mental health clients. She consults globally on system approaches to mentoring, coaching, and creating organizational communities of respectful engagement.
Product details
- ASIN : 0470424842
- Publisher : Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (April 20, 2009)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780470424841
- ISBN-13 : 978-0470424841
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.1 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #323,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #687 in Workplace Culture (Books)
- #712 in Human Resources & Personnel Management (Books)
- #3,115 in Business Management (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

A 2005 Fulbright Scholar in Organization Development, Dr. Kusy is a professor in the Graduate School of Leadership & Change at Antioch University. Mitch has consulted and been a keynote speaker with hundreds of organizations nationally and internationally—helping create work cultures of respectful engagement impacting individual, team, and bottom-line performance. He previously headed leadership and organization development at American Express Financial Advisors and HealthPartners. Previous to "Why I Don't Work Here Anymore", Mitch authored five business books. In 1998, he received the Minnesota Organization Development Practitioner of the Year Award. He resides in Minneapolis and Palm Springs, and may be contacted at mitchellkusy@gmail.com.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book informative and helpful. They describe it as well-written, easy to read, and clear. The book provides useful information about toxic personalities in the workplace and how to manage them effectively.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book informative and helpful. They say it's an essential guide for anyone looking to go into management or who is already in management. The book provides practical advice on recognizing and dealing with toxic personalities, as well as useful skills to keep your sanity. Readers appreciate the well-researched facts and information about toxic personalities.
"...It is an essential guide for anyone looking to go into management or is already in management. It's a super easy read and useful in the workplace...." Read more
"good info for average employee" Read more
"Not only is this book well written, but it is based on real research - not just an opinion survey...." Read more
"This eye-catching cover contains a book full of well-researched facts and info about toxic personalities in the workplace, how much they negatively..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They appreciate the clear guidance and different perspectives provided by the authors. The book is based on real research and provides practical advice.
"...It's a super easy read and useful in the workplace...." Read more
"Not only is this book well written, but it is based on real research - not just an opinion survey...." Read more
"This book outlines a study exploring toxic employees. It is well-written, easy to read, and offers practical advice for how to deal with the toxic..." Read more
"...if you have not you maybe the toxic person haha good read so far" Read more
Customers find the book helpful for surviving and managing toxic workplaces. They appreciate the well-researched facts and information about toxic personalities in the workplace. The book helps readers separate poisonous individuals from reliable partners.
"...contains a book full of well-researched facts and info about toxic personalities in the workplace, how much they negatively impact the bottom line,..." Read more
"...No shortage of toxicity here. A helpful discussion." Read more
"...contains a wealth of practical advice for surviving and managing workplace "poisons."..." Read more
"...book with great information on recognizing and dealing with toxic personalities in the workplace." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2010I had to read this book for a class and I have to say I'm glad I picked it. It is an essential guide for anyone looking to go into management or is already in management. It's a super easy read and useful in the workplace. I def recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a toxic person at work or just to prepare yourself for the possibility of working with someone toxic.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2020good info for average employee
- Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars The authors do a great job describing what you can do from different perspectives
Not only is this book well written, but it is based on real research - not just an opinion survey. The authors do a great job describing what you can do from different perspectives. You might not be able to change your whole organization, but you can avoid common misnomers and at least handle any situation more informed than using trial-and-error that could cost you emotional energy and wasted time.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2017This eye-catching cover contains a book full of well-researched facts and info about toxic personalities in the workplace, how much they negatively impact the bottom line, and what to do about it. These learnings can be applied to just about any organization, of any size and stripe. Highly recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2011The contents of this book provided me with a great understanding into the behaviours of my team that I couldn't find elsewhere, and why the team wouldn't deal with the toxic personalities that existed. It also highlighted some of the hidden effects on other individuals. I have now started the process of turning the team around and dealing with the specific problem individuals.
It is worth reading if you have trouble personalities in your work place and I have shared it with a number of other managers in my workplace.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2017This book outlines a study exploring toxic employees. It is well-written, easy to read, and offers practical advice for how to deal with the toxic employees on a systemic level. Highly recommended for anyone managing teams or leading an organization.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2012It is written in consultant speak - and is excessively repetitive. Don't try and read it cover to cover - it seems to be designed for the skim read. An interesting read that draws on good management practices. No silver bullets (unfortunately).
- Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2020This topic is limitless in application as toxic culture penetrates all ranks in all industries. Not easy to understand it but worth to learn it deeper as we go in our career path.
Top reviews from other countries
Sana kiReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 20205.0 out of 5 stars I loved it
The book met my exact needs. Very useful
BrianReviewed in Australia on April 3, 20244.0 out of 5 stars TIME FOR CHANGE IN UNIVERSAL WORKPLACE CULTURE.
The workforce, worldwide, has been exploited and suppressed by major Corporations and Companies. Time has come for change to new workplace laws to be introduced by Goverments' all around the world to
protect the health, safety and well-being of the workers who have been victimized and traumatized over
the past decades.
JodiReviewed in Canada on July 11, 20135.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
I have lent this book out to many co-workers who are having problems at work. This is a very useful book to read.

