A healthy culture doesn’t happen by accident – it’s built through consistent action whereas a toxic culture can quietly take hold – damaging trust, morale, and performance. Spot the red flags early and discover three powerful leadership actions to turn things around.
Warning sign 1: Fear of speaking up
Team members stay silent, avoid giving feedback, and don’t share ideas.
Warning sign 2: Blame over solutions
Mistakes lead to finger pointing, not problem-solving.
Warning sign 3: Us vs Them mentality
Teams work in silos, avoiding collaboration.
Warning sign 4: Chronic stress and burnout
High pressure with little support leads to disengagement.
Warning sign 5: Lack of recognition
Good work goes unnoticed, leaving people feeling undervalued.
Action 1: Model openness
Be the first to ask for feedback and admit mistakes, show it’s safe to be honest.
Action 2: Shift from blame to learning
When things go wrong, ask: “What can we learn?” – not “Who’s at fault?”
Action 3: Recognise and appreciate
Regularly acknowledge effort and contributions, no matter how small.
Need help turning your workplace culture around? Book a free discovery call with one of our expert business psychologists and see how we can help you. Here’s a case study on how we improved culture within the ambulance service.