Toxic behaviors are a major energy drain in teams and organizations. The web is awash with tips and insights on dealing with narcissists and how we are drawn in by their charm and charisma. Mind games like “gaslighting” and “goal-post moving” have us doubting our sanity, leaving us feeling battered, bruised and exhausted.

But did you know that there is another toxic trait that may have crept into your team or leadership unnoticed? This behavior is subtler and may have been perceived as simply having high standards or an intense work ethic. What am I talking about? Perfectionism. It is the behavior where an individual is constantly striving for unobtainable standards or judging their self-worth on achievements.

Generally, it is a good idea to have high standards. Setting challenging goals help us have direction and purpose. And from a psychological standpoint, we need a feeling of accomplishment in our lives. However, when these goals are unachievable or trigger addictive behaviors, it is time to reassess.

Perfectionism can be driven by the goal of success or, for some, by fear of failure. And yes, some perfectionists are narcissists.

The condition can develop in childhood through praise of academic or athletic achievement; by punishment for making mistakes, leaving the child’s thought process as, “Next time, I will be perfect so that my parents won’t punish me;” or by modeling, copying the behaviors of those around them. Perfectionism lacks flexibility. It’s an “always or never” thought process — an unrealistic and rigid mindset that builds boundaries. And yet, there is more than just one type of perfectionism.

With more than one type, how can this condition be rigid? Often, this is demonstrated by the impact your perfectionist leader has on you and your team.

1. Self-Orientated Perfectionism

These leaders focus on their flaws and failures and appear to be too busy perfecting their own work to have time for their team’s questions or problems. They can be dismissive and perceived as angry, impatient and frenetic. They sequester themselves in their office and stay late or often come in very early. Why? Because they need all this extra time to redo their work to their “idea” of perfection. The result is delayed deadlines, broken commitments and procrastination. They have alienated their team to the point that no one’s watching anymore and, frankly, no one cares much either.