With my recent online training, ‘How to Cope With a Toxic Work Environment and Get Out’, under my belt, I heard from a few of you who missed it that you could use some guidance in navigating the sticky situation that is a toxic work environment. So, I decided to help you out and give you the first few steps you need to properly identify if you work in a toxic work environment so you can do something about it--whether it's move along or try to make some changes around here. I developed four key questions to ask yourself to decipher whether you’re in a toxic work environment. These questions will give you clarity and help you move forward.
A toxic work environment is a space where there is prominent drama, fighting, personal battles and power struggles that inhibit productivity (i.e. you have trouble getting your work done). Sometimes it is difficult to know whether you’re in a toxic work environment, especially if you’re deeply ‘invested’ in it, so I have developed some questions to help you take a deeper look into whether you are in a toxic work environment:
1. Do you feel chronically feel stressed out? Do you feel chronically stressed out at work?
2. Are you doing the job of an entire team? Some work environments have low budgets or are organized in such a way where multiple roles are unfairly placed on one person. This can lead to chronic stress.
3. Are you being bullied at work?
4. Are you surrounded by or part of office gossip? Are you part of spreading the gossip?
If you answered YES to 2 or more of these questions, then it is likely that you’re working in a toxic environment and some changes need to be made. Toxicity has different levels to it, so if you answered YES to all four questions, then we need to talk. Answering these questions can help you get clear on the level of toxicity you’re engaged with and identify what is really going on.
There is saying that, “Wherever you go, there you are”. Could you be creating more toxicity in your environment?
If you answered NO to these questions, that’s okay too – there is a reason that you may be feeling not so enthused about your job. Regular stress, disengagement in work and misalignment can be other indicators that changes need to be made.
I will be launching a group program, Jumpstart the Work You Love, in September that will happen every Thursday. The program will help you close this chapter and create a new exciting vision for your future, help you discover your ideal work environment, your ideal position or business AND enable you to leave with a solid action plan for moving forward so you don't find yourself in yet another toxic work environment. Will you join me? To learn more about the Jumpstart the Work You Love Group Program or to sign up, click here.