Individual and organizational effects of toxic leadership behaviors of school administrators

This research; this study was conducted to investigate the individual and organizational effects of school administrators' toxic leadership behaviors, according to teachers' opinions. The research was carried out using the phenomenology pattern included in the qualitative research tradition. The research was carried out in preschool, primary, secondary and high school schools in Kocaeli province Kartepe district in the 2021-2022 academic year, and the opinions of twenty teachers were consulted in order to find answers to the research questions. In the research, a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher was used. The study group to be interviewed within the scope of the research data was determined by using criterion sampling and snowball sampling from purposive sampling methods. Descriptive analysis and content analysis methods, which are one of the qualitative data analysis techniques, were used in the analysis of teachers' opinions. According to the findings, teachers; perceives the narcissistic attitudes and negative moods of school administrators that prevent communication, do not comply with managerial ethics, are selfish, self-interested, authoritarian, unreliable, and untrustworthy. As the reasons for the toxic leadership behaviors of the school administrators by the teachers; they showed factors originating from psychological, management approach, communication skills, originating from past experiences, organizational origin, assignment and supervision. Toxic leadership behaviors of school administrators; it has been determined that teachers have individual effects that are reflected in their emotional state, mental health, thoughts and behaviors, and physiological structure. Toxic leadership behaviors of school administrators; at the organizational level, it has been determined that there are effects on the order and functioning of the organization, organizational trust, organizational behavior, organizational communication, organizational conflict, and organizational goals. In addition, it was determined that teachers showed active and passive reactions when coping with toxic leadership behaviors. Suggestions were made to practitioners and researchers within the framework of the findings.