1st Edition
Why I Don't Work Here Anymore A Leader’s Guide to Offset the Financial and Emotional Costs of Toxic Employees
You have likely heard stories from friends, family members, and colleagues who quit a job because of a toxic person—an individual who belittles, shames, humiliates, shames, or bullies. You may not have realized that these individuals not only take their tolls on our emotional psyches, but the financial outcomes of their organizations as well. Through this book’s many case examples, as well as evidence-based practices and templates, each chapter singles out one main issue and how to resolve it with respect and clarity. Dr. Kusy presents concrete practices that will restore civility and respect into your organization as well as with increased financial performance. Some of these practices include:
- Calculating the real financial cost of toxic people in your organization.
- Providing direct and respectful feedback to a toxic peer, direct report, and even your boss.
- Replacing traditional exit interviews -- that often don’t work very well -- with a method for dealing with toxic chameleons who "knock down and kiss up."
- Hiring, engaging talent, and even firing people based on a new approach to values-based performance management.
You will emerge with a newfound understanding that restores personal well-being and increased financial performance.
Chapter 1: Do you work with a toxic person? Are you a toxic person?
Chapter 2: Are the myths about toxic people really true?
Chapter 3: Does giving feedback to a toxic individual work? If so, what are the best ways to do this?
Chapter 4 : Are you a toxic protector? Are you a toxic buffer?
Chapter 5 : Do your hiring practices open a floodgate for toxic people? Do your exiting practices shield out valuable feedback about toxic individuals?
Chapter 6: Does your organization’s performance evaluation process allow toxic people to slide through the cracks?
Chapter 7: Do teams excuse toxic behavior? What can they do differently?
Chapter 8 : How can you keep your ear to the ground to identify toxic people before their full-blown campaign of destruction?
Chapter 9: What can you do to build a culture of everyday civility that takes power away from toxic people?
Biography
Dr. Mitchell Kusy has had 25 years’ experience in leadership and organization development. A Registered Organization Development Consultant, he is a full professor in the Graduate School of Leadership & Change at Antioch University—with a worldwide audience of students who are key leaders in their respective organizations. He is a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Auckland (New Zealand). In 2005, Dr. Kusy received the international honor of being selected a Fulbright Scholar for international organization development. In 1998, he received the prestigious award as Minnesota Organization Development Practitioner of the Year. Before entering academia, Dr. Kusy worked in industry and directed the leadership development area at American Express Financial Advisors; previous to this he managed organization development for Health Partners. He consults internationally in leadership development, strategic planning, team development, 360-degree feedback, executive coaching, and organization development.
"Given the huge dependency on human performance and relationships in the modern business world, Dr. Kusy’s insights, perspectives, and solutions in dealing with toxic personalities in the workplace should be required reading for next generational leaders at all levels."
Tom Ryan, Founder and CEO, Smashburger
"In Why I Don’t Work Here Anymore, Dr. Kusy applies evidence-based research and practices to bring respect and civility back into the workplace—a practice whose time has come! Through his many case scenarios, templates, and assessment inventories, Mitch helps leaders demonstrate the financial and emotional costs of toxic behaviors. We need his book now more than ever!"
Frances Hesselbein, Founding President, Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum
Former CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA (1976-1990)
"Toxic employees levy a huge tax on your team and your enterprise. Why I Don’t Work Here Anymore does a brilliant job navigating you and your business from toxicity to transformation. Dr. Kusy has crafted another must-read!"
Kevin Cashman, Korn Ferry, Global Leader of CEO and Executive Development,
Best Selling Author of Leadership from the Inside Out and The Pause Principle
"Dr. Kusy provides an in-depth assessment of the financial and emotional costs of a toxic, disruptive environment that cannot be ignored. He offers a number of different recommendations and strategies that will enable organizations to more effectively deal with this complex issue. I highly recommend it."
Alan H. Rosenstein M.D.
Renowned expert and national consultant in healthcare behavioral management
"Dr. Mitch Kusy hits the mark with his real-life, data-driven perspectives on toxic employees. If you have ever encountered a colleague or employee who compromises your work environment, this book is a ‘must-read’ to understand what to do in these challenging situations."
L. Kelley Lindquist, Artspace President and CEO
Wendy Holmes, Artspace Senior VP, Consulting and Strategic Partnerships
