Toxic positivity isn’t leadership
I have been thinking about positivity in leadership and its pros and cons. There is a way of doing positivity right. Controversial? Maybe. However I am a firm believer that fake positivity is not leadership. It is a grand showcase of avoidance to face negative facts and be a real leader in times of uncertainty and change. We do not need to drown in negativity, absolutely not, but we need to acknowledge unpleasant situations and act upon them with realism, at times. We are all human, we have emotions - be that in our personal or professional lives. Those emotions, need to be acknowledged and dealt with, not swept under the rug when they feel uncomfortable. There is nothing wrong with being positive and try to have an optimistic outlook on life but it has to be natural and relevant, not done for the sake of it.
I have worked with leaders who love to stay positive, optimistic, always put a smile on their face for the sake of it. This ultimately results in lack of clarity and understanding of the severity of a situation by the team led by the leader. At the start of me working with someone like that, I genuinely enjoyed it. It was a breath of fresh air from all the stressed out, frowning leaders I had experienced in the past. It felt that everything was love and light and it was going to be OK. Until it was not. Pretending that situations are not as bad as they are only creates a fake sense of safety for the leader and the team to start with. The second stage of having a false positive leader is that the team they lead starts to loose touch with reality, feels scared to express emotions that are not ‘positive’ and overall becomes an avoidant experience. Conflict and negativity are a part of life, and there are situations in which those should be accepted as part of business life. The ‘positive vibes’ only movement can have profound negative effects on people and businesses.
Toxic Positivity Reduces Action-Driven Behavior
When leaders consistently push an overly positive outlook, employees may feel discouraged from addressing real issues or taking necessary action to solve problems. According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, when people feel pressured to maintain a positive demeanor, they are less likely to engage in proactive problem-solving behaviors . This can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities for improvement within the organization. Difficult conversations need to be had. They are not pleasant but they support the healthy management of challenging situations and give the team a realistic perspective of where they stand, together with the business.
Toxic Positivity Can Create Feelings of Isolation
Toxic positivity often invalidates the genuine emotions of employees, making them feel misunderstood or disregarded. Research from the University of Washington indicates that when individuals feel their negative emotions are not acknowledged, they are more likely to experience feelings of isolation and loneliness . This can harm team cohesion and lead to decreased engagement and productivity. It is not about feeding into negative emotions and perceptions but team members need to be heard and acknowledged when they are experiencing negative emotions. If not, all it does is push the team member over the edge and they would ultimately stop caring about their role and leave.
Toxic Positivity Can Kill Morale
Persistent toxic positivity can lead to a lack of authenticity in the workplace, causing employees to distrust leadership. According to a Gallup poll, workplaces that lack genuine communication experience lower morale and increased employee turnover . Employees need to feel that their leaders are realistic and empathetic to maintain high morale and commitment. I personally believe this is the most important aspect of leadership - to be trusted by your team. How can a leader lead a team that has no faith in them? I do believe that trust is built when a leader is empathic and realistic about situations. There is no need to sugarcoat everything, as in my personal opinion this sometimes insults the EQ and IQ of the teams working with the said leader. People know when things are challenging, and not acknowledging that only leads to mistrust.
Toxic Positivity Can Become a Business Threat
By ignoring or downplaying problems, leaders practicing toxic positivity can leave their organizations unprepared for challenges, which can escalate into larger business threats. The Harvard Business Review reports that organizations that fail to address critical issues due to a culture of forced positivity are at greater risk of experiencing significant operational and financial setbacks . Realistic assessments and honest feedback are essential for sustainable business success.
My personal belief is that to be a leader you need to be able to have the hard conversions without the rose tinted glasses. I genuinely believe that being false positive as a leader increases the chances of a team burning out due to them being forced to feel something they may not be feeling. I do believe that leadership is creating a positive working environment organically. Hiring the right candidates, creating real excitement around projects and goals, genuinely caring about the individuals you lead and their aspirations and pivoting as a leader when needed to adjust to change. At the end of the day people change, businesses change and so do external factors, there is no such thing as one approach fits all scenarios. Be positive and happy while also holding the reigns and steering the ship during the tough times.
