Relationships, both personal and professional, play a crucial role in life. Some connections nurture growth and success, while others tend to be harmful. Toxic relationships can exhaust both your mental and emotional well-being, making it essential to identify when someone is adversely affecting your personal or work life, allowing you to detach yourself from that scenario.
Even if you sense that a specific friend or coworker is toxic, we consulted members of the Young Entrepreneur Council to highlight some unmistakable warning indicators of toxic relationships—both personal and professional. Here’s what they advised watching for:
1. Avoidance of Accountability
Individuals with toxic traits often project their faults onto others. Consequently, you might find yourself doubting your own abilities, without realizing you’re being used as a scapegoat to shift focus away from their issues.
—Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
2. Unreliability
Everyone knows someone who shirks responsibility and blames others for their failures. These individuals usually miss deadlines, consistently deliver subpar work, and show a complete lack of concern for those around them.
—John Turner, SeedProd LLC
3. Absence of Boundaries
Certain relationships can be draining, particularly when the other person often seeks your assistance for trivial favors or engages in endless gossip. It becomes essential to communicate the need for boundaries to maintain a sustainable relationship.
—Firas Kittaneh, Zoma Mattress
4. Retaliatory Behavior
When a team member begins to “get back at” others due to their actions or mistakes, it’s crucial to understand the root cause and reassess the dynamics involved. This behavior can severely affect workplace morale and the overall environment, and it applies to personal interactions as well.
—Karl Kangur, Above House
5. One-Sided Relationships
In both personal and professional situations, a healthy exchange of support is vital. A significant warning sign is when you find a partner who frequently asks for your help but never reciprocates. In such scenarios, it’s best to walk away and seek a more balanced relationship.
—Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
6. Exploiting Personal History
A clear indication of a toxic relationship arises when the other party weaponizes your past or vulnerabilities against you. They might use sensitive information to belittle you publicly or manipulate you into compliance. This is a strong indicator that you need to exit the relationship.
—Blair Williams, MemberPress
7. Inability to Acknowledge Different Viewpoints
When entering a business partnership or collaborating with a new colleague, pay attention to their ability to understand other perspectives. If they lack the capacity to empathize and engage in compromise or teamwork, they may not contribute positively to your joint efforts.
—Thomas Smale, FE International
8. Creating Isolation
In any personal or work context, nobody should make you feel isolated. For example, if a supervisor insists you work longer hours while reporting a standard workload to HR, you lose precious family time. Additionally, if someone goes through your phone and advises against contacting your friends, it’s alarming. Everyone thrives better with a supportive social network, and losing that connection is a significant warning sign.
—Patrick Barnhill, Specialist ID, Inc.
9. Dishonesty
When there’s a disconnect between someone’s statements and actions, that’s a warning signal. Some individuals can eloquently express all the right words, yet fail to follow through with their actions. Be observant and don’t hesitate to confront it; they will continue their behavior as long as they can.
—Diego Orjuela, Cables & Sensors
10. Breach of Trust
Building trust is essential for healthy relationships, whether personal or professional. If you find yourself concerned that someone may not prioritize your well-being or could potentially harm you, it signifies a toxic relationship. Both parties must foster a transparent and honest environment to feel secure in their trust.
—Stephen Beach, Craft Impact Marketing
11. Imposing Control
As an adult, it’s your right to make your own choices. You have the autonomy to work and live freely. If a partner seeks to control or impose limitations on you in any way, it’s time to reconsider the relationship.
—Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
12. Stagnation
If the dynamics of a personal relationship or professional engagements start to stagnate, it’s often a sign of troubles ahead. Remaining in unproductive relationships will impede your growth, which ultimately serves no one in the long term.
—Matthew Podolsky, Florida Law Advisers, P.A.
13. Chronic Negativity
A significant red flag of a harmful relationship is the presence of someone who continuously undermines your progress toward personal or professional aspirations. It’s acceptable to have critical voices that provide constructive feedback; however, persistent negativity is a cue to sever ties.
—Zach Ferres, Coplex
