Don't be a jerk at work!

Let's talk about something that transcends borders and cultures: workplace toxicity.

Whether you're in a corporate office in Sandton or a startup in Cape Town, we've all encountered our fair share of workplace jerks. Toxic LeadershipThe numbers tell a compelling story, both globally and here in South Africa.

According to a 2023 PwC South Africa Workplace Culture Survey:

• 67% of South African employees reported experiencing toxic workplace behaviour in the past year;
• 42% cited poor leadership as the primary reason for leaving their previous job;
• Companies with toxic cultures faced up to 35% higher absenteeism rates

Research from the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB, 2023) highlights unique challenges in our local context:

• Cultural diversity requires leaders to be especially mindful of different communication styles
• Historical power dynamics can amplify the impact of toxic leadership
• High unemployment rates (around 32%) often lead to employees tolerating toxic environments due to limited options.

The Jerk Triggers

Stanford University professor Robert Sutton identifies three universal triggers that turn people into workplace villains:

1. Power trips (or as we say in SA, "going high and mighty")
2. Hyper-competitiveness
3. The "perpetual rush" syndrome.

Recent research from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) suggests successful African leaders blend:

• Ubuntu principles (human dignity and connectedness)
• Global best practices* Cultural intelligence
• Adaptive resilience

The Bottom Line

Leadership in South Africa comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Our diverse workforce requires leaders who can navigate multiple cultural contexts while maintaining basic human decency. As the African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Our leadership styles should reflect both global best practices and local cultural nuances. But the foundation remains the same – don't be a jerk!