All toxic individuals are not created equal

Dr Holly Andrews (Henley Business School)
Most of us, unfortunately, have encountered toxic individuals in our work relationships or daily life. But what motivates their behaviour and how can we better manage it?

Such people often display traits such as manipulativeness, superficial charm, lack of empathy and remorse, impulsiveness, irresponsibility, antisocial and criminal behaviour, which are characteristic of psychopathy. A personality disorder historically associated with violent offenders, we now know that high levels of psychopathy can also be found in individuals working in organisations, particularly those in positions of power.

Dr Holly Andrews will explore why psychopathic traits may confer an advantage in business settings, and why organisations may be vulnerable to them. She will show why thinking about toxic individuals as one group may not be the right approach and will discuss the different ways to manage them in the workplace and other areas of our lives.

Admission is free