One Toxic Person Can Destroy a Team…

Saby Waraich

One Toxic Person Can Destroy a Team… 

Ever walked into a room and felt the energy shift?

One person’s negativity can turn a high-performing team into a dysfunctional mess. 

And science backs it up...

A study on the Bad Apple Effect tested what happens when just one toxic person joins a team of five.

The results? Brutal.

🔻 40% drop in overall performance

🔻 25% decline in work quality

🔻 50% more conflicts—crippling collaboration

And this happened in just under an hour.

Now, imagine the impact over months… or years.

Toxicity spreads faster than talent. It kills innovation, drains motivation, and destroys careers.

What’s Helped Me?

Mental Fitness: Recognizing negative emotions early and shifting to a positive mindset. PQ (Positive Intelligence) is a game changer!

The 10-Second Rule: When I feel triggered by negativity, I pause and ask, “Is this thought serving me or sabotaging me?”

I reframe the thought instead of stopping it!

Energy Audit: I regularly reflect on the people around me—who lifts me up, and who drains my energy?

The CARES Framework: (Communicate, Adapt, Relationships, Empower, Stay Calm)—this helps me lead with impact, even in challenging situations.

Here’s the hard truth:

➟ If you don’t set boundaries, negativity will set them for you.

➟ If you don’t remove toxic influences, they’ll remove your peace.

➟ If you don’t protect your energy, who will?

The best leaders don’t just build great teams—they remove what’s holding them back.

Who’s the most positive person you’ve worked with? 

Tag them in the comments and give them the recognition they deserve!