We Were Toxic — Now We're Trying 1:2

Most leaders underestimate what it takes to identify—let alone fix—a toxic culture. Lars and Paulina reveal how fast a once high-performing team can spiral, and exactly what mistakes turn small issues into full-blown crises.You'll learn concrete indicators of toxicity: what passive-aggressive emails, credit hoarding, and silence actually reveal about a team's health. They break down powerful frameworks like radical candor and how the fear of admitting mistakes accelerates decline. Plus, get their no-nonsense playbook: the deliberately destructive behaviors that foster toxicity—and how to avoid them.This conversation is a must-listen for founders, HR leaders, and managers serious about building resilient, high-performing cultures—before it's too late. Whether you're navigating growth or trying to course-correct, you'll gain insights on spotting trouble early, addressing it head-on, and ultimately transforming toxicity into trust.The early signs of a toxic team and shifting energyThe impact of rapid growth on company cultureBehavioral indicators of toxicity from outside and inside a teamHow unchecked praise, sarcasm, and silence erode trustThe role of leadership mistakes in fostering toxicityRecognizing and addressing your own contribution to dysfunctionThe critical importance of authentic feedback and psychological safetyPractical steps to intentionally create or inadvertently foster toxicityCulture Code Foundation https://www.culturecodefoundation.com/Paulina on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccf-paulina-von-mirbach-benz/Paulina on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sceptical_paulina/ Lars on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsnielsenorg/Lars on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/larsnielsen_cph/00:00 - Introduction to the episode and its focus on toxic cultures03:13 - The influence of external scrutiny and media attention04:22 - The ripple effect of watching a team decline into toxicity05:02 - Building a high-performing, human-centered culture amid challenges06:38 - Common misconceptions about organizational culture10:32 - Leaders’ tendency to ignore or delay addressing problems13:06 - A personal story of toxicity from inside a fast-growing tech team14:59 - The shift in team energy as size and outside influence increase16:49 - What a toxic team looks like from the inside, despite outward performance17:46 - Behavioral signs: interrupted conversations, fear of ownership, escalation of small issues19:24 - Toxic behaviors: Sarcasm as a management tool & credit hoarding21:45 - How loud voices dominate and silence quieter but valuable team members29:00 - The importance of open dialogue and recognition of early warning signs29:41 - The painful realization of a team’s breaking point and an employee’s resignation33:54 - Personal reflections on leadership failure and learning36:24 - Self-awareness: How leaders can unintentionally foster toxicity38:33 - The danger of rewarding poor behavior and the importance of living core values41:36 - A satirical “playbook” for intentionally creating toxicity (and why not to follow it)