A toxic leader will use your ambition as a means to control and manipulate you.
- They dangle the carrot of promotions or raises to keep you working harder, even when no real opportunity exists.
- They set overly ambitious targets that are almost impossible to achieve. When you struggle, they use it as a way to criticise and control you.
- They pit employees against each other to foster an environment of "trust no one, take no prisoners".
- They shower you with praise when you meet their expectations but withhold recognition or critique you harshly when you don’t.
- They exploit your fear of failure to push you beyond reasonable limits (i.e. get you to overwork and sacrifice your mental health and wellbeing).
- They reward those who align with their personal agendas and create an environment of favouritism.
- They make you feel like your job performance is tied to your self-worth.
- They downplay or overlook your successes and make you feel like you have to work harder just to earn basic recognition or their approval.
- They subtly undermine your confidence by questioning your capabilities and decision-making.
Remember, your ambition is a powerful asset, but toxic leaders will exploit it to keep you under their thumb.