Toxic work cultures truly rot from the head

Leaders are the single most powerful lever for culture, and the data shows that senior leadership correlates strongest with toxic workplaces. The Medium post cites an MIT-derived chart that ranks senior leadership at the top of factors that predict a poisonous environment, making the point that culture flows from the head.

Most executives refuse to own that role, insisting that HR is responsible for culture. The article quotes Ed Schein: "The only thing of real importance that leaders do is create and manage culture." That denial creates a blind spot; leaders act without recognizing the impact of their behavior, allowing toxicity to fester unchecked.

For technical leaders the takeaway is clear: you must treat culture as a core deliverable. Assess how your decisions, communication style, and priorities signal values to the team. When you see symptoms of toxicity, intervene directly rather than delegating to HR, and model the behaviors you want to see. Owning culture drives better performance, higher morale, and reduces turnover.