How can you develop your emotional intelligence and resilience to handle toxic behaviors?

The best way to deal with toxic people is to?clearly communicate your boundaries and what behavior is unacceptable to you. Let the person know how their behavior is impacting you and make it clear that it needs to change. Here are steps to handle toxic behavior: 1. Set clear boundaries and express how their behavior impacts you. 2. Distance yourself from the person exhibiting toxic behavior. 3. Build a support system with positive people. 4. Prioritize self-care for mental and physical well-being. 5. Consider professional help if needed. 6. Stay calm and assertive when addressing the person. 7. Keep records of incidents for potential further action.

In today's workplaces, toxic behaviors like bullying, gossip, sabotage, and micromanagement can harm productivity, well-being, and relationships. But you can empower yourself with emotional intelligence (EQ) and resilience. EQ allows you to understand and manage emotions, fostering better communication and conflict resolution. Resilience helps you bounce back from adversity, learning and growing from challenges

When you lead a team, toxic behaviours may be the most significant factor that affects the cohesion of the team. But, if the leader handles this kind of behaviour with calmness, dignity and even some humour, it can be exploited in order to strengthen the leader's position in the group and to isolate the person of interest. Getting control of your emotions is critical because besides the reduced stress on yourself it helps the team identify the source of the problem without harming the leader's image. It's a painful process (to suppress yourself is straining) but it can be rewarding at the end, when the team's cohesion and effectiveness is restored.

The importance of maintaining a positive image, and developing emotional intelligence and resilience can greatly contribute to this. Handling toxic behaviors with grace and professionalism can help you maintain your personal and professional reputation while fostering healthier relationships and environments.

Good advice. Invokes the old adage, 'act in haste, repent at leisure'. Never respond instinctively and immediately, even if you know that you are being treated unfairly. Remain outwardly calm when it happens, but marshal your facts and related evidence of the truth and then you can respond to the individual who has maligned or offended you in a considered way, privately, and effectively. Who knows, occasionally you might even get an apology, but at least you will have set the record straight and possibly your accuser will hesitate before behaving in a similar fashion in future.

To manage stress uniquely, consider alternative treatments alongside traditional methods. Ketamine therapy, under medical supervision, can offer rapid relief for stress-related disorders. Acupuncture balances the body's energy, while neurofeedback therapy optimizes brainwave patterns. Adaptogenic herbs, like ashwagandha or rhodiola, can help your body adapt to stress. Always consult a healthcare professional before trying alternative treatments, and combine these approaches to create a personalized stress management plan that fosters emotional resilience, if it makes sense for you. Remember, there's nothing "wrong" with you if "traditional" stress mitigators fail... try new things and potentially, find stress relief!

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to practice self-care because it can feel like one more thing to do right? Here is one simple, quick thing you can do to start to practice self-care and manage your stress: be present with yourself. Being present is the first way to practice self-care. If you can be present and mindful for just a minute, you are practicing self-care. Be present to what is happening in your mind and body without judgment. As you navigate challenging situations as a leader it is important to take pauses throughout the day and simply notice yourself. Notice how you react to things. Get curious about what happens in your body when something happens at work and grow that awareness over time.

From my experience, one thing that i have found useful is to finding out time for your own self care. It is important to switch off for some time every day and do something which you like such as workout, sports, playing with your kid or anything which can take your mind away from the stressful situations at work. This definitely helps in rejuvenating and also looking at things from a different perspective after some time.

Developing emotional intelligence and resilience to handle toxic behaviors is essential for maintaining healthy relationships and well-being. Here are some steps to help you enhance your emotional intelligence 1. Self-awareness: Understand your emotions and reactions. 2. Recognize toxic behaviors: Identify them in others. 3. Set boundaries: Communicate and enforce them. 4. Empathy: Try to understand their perspective. 5. Emotional regulation: Manage your reactions. 6. Communication skills: Express yourself assertively. 7. Seek support: Talk to trusted individuals. 8. Self-care: Prioritize your well-being. 9. Develop resilience: Embrace challenges as growth opportunities. 10. Limit exposure: Minimize contact when needed.

The most powerful way to manage stress is the remember Who You Really Are. In other words, realize that your True Self is way beyond any day to day stressors that you might encounter. It's (your) nature is peace, clarity and freedom. As with all things worth doing, this takes practice! Learning to come from the broader perspective of Being (instead of ego) is easier than you think, when you learn how to look for it. HINT: your True Self is present right now, hiding in plain sight ??

Empathizing with others is the first step to understanding the toxic behavior. But then what? Empathy is a feeling, an emotion, a noun. You need tangible skills, actions, verbs to apply. Good leaders have been skilled up in knowing how to diffuse these situations and grow. And it goes way beyond emotional intelligence. Leaders need to consistently: 1. Assess their supporting behaviors to identify skills to hone. 2. Be intentional in moving upstream to understand what is causing the issue in the first place to avoid toxicity. 3. Skill up their workforce to know how to support, connect, and develop empathetic bonds. #ShowingUp #SupportiveCare #SocialIntelligence

When tackling toxic behavior in the workplace and its reverberations, I think it's important to demonstrate empathetic leadership. 1-If a colleague is upset or stressed, acknowledge their feelings and show that you see and hear what they are going through. 2-Take the time to actively listen to your colleague without interrupting or judging. 3-Avoid dismissive statements like "Just relax" or "Don't worry about it." 4- Offer support and follow up to see how they're doing. By creating space for vulnerability with your team, you actually strengthen trust which allows those involved to shift focus back to work.

One way to develop deeper empathy is to learn more about your colleagues and team members. Through Employee Resource Groups you can learn about their faith, hobbies, interests, experiences. When you see the other persons perspective on the world it can help you “walk in their shoes”. This helps when your working towards a common goal or when you have a conflict.

Empathy is realizing that, despite apparent differences, we are far more the same than we are different. Once we have learned to slow down and listen to our Deeper Wisdom, we can more easily see the other person, not as an enemy, but as someone attempting (perhaps unskillfully!) to address their concerns. I can't tell you how many times this simple approach has diffused potentially volatile situations for myself and my clients.

Practicing empathy can help you build better relationships and handle toxic behaviors more effectively. Try putting yourself in the other person's shoes and seeing things from their perspective.

We are always teaching people how to treat us, so it’s so important to set energetic boundaries around these behaviors. This typically sounds like telling people what you will and won’t tolerate: “I’d like to stick to the facts of the situation” “I’d like to address this situation directly with Susie instead of speculating.” “Let’s bring the conversation back to the agenda (instead of gossip)” “Can you clarify what you meant when you said that?” “I’m happy to continue this conversation when you’re ready to have it calmly.”

Ask more questions. Use phrases like, "Can you clarify what you mean by that?" or "Please help me understand...". If you feel that it's time to assert yourself, it's a good idea to settle your body down first. Feel your feet, grounded on the floor. Breathe deeply into your belly. Consciously relax any tense muscles. During most conflicts, the individual most committed to their emotional state will often begin to create that state in others. Be committed to peace and self-control and allow your state to spread to others!

Marshall Rosenberg's work at the center for nonviolent communication provides an easy and impactful framework for this assertion stage. It also honors what was stated in step one, name the emotion/feeling and enables you to express yourself without blame or criticizing. The basic format is: what I observe ("what I see/hear...") + how I feel ("I feel...(add emotion or sensation)) + what I need or value ("because I need or value...") + my request ("would you be willing to...").

In my experience it was Senior Leadership at the organizational site that was engaging in the gossiping, bullying and toxic behavior. I had to assert myself as a newer department leader by letting them know my focus was on getting to know and strengthening my team and to look at current performance failures and to work with my team to create solutions. I made it clear that I did not appreciate being the subject of or being pulled into gossip about other individuals. It was a distraction and when I was the source of gossip and the site VP continued to approach me with it like it was factual I became angry and further disappointed. I felt I could not trust my superiors and after only six months I resigned and left the organization.

Assertiveness means I am honoring myself and the person I am speaking to. Assertive people are open and direct. They are usually good communicators and negotiators; compromise comes easily to them. They can view both sides of a situation but won't be made into doormats. Assertiveness helps you communicate what you need while protecting your rights without stomping over the other person's feelings and rights. Assertive people speak with confidence, clarity, and conciseness so everything is understood. When conversing, they listen and graciously allow the other person to respond, deescalating conflict.

To effectively seek feedback, embrace a growth mindset, recognizing that constructive criticism helps you learn and evolve. Approach people you trust and respect, such as colleagues, supervisors, or mentors, and ask specific questions about your performance, behavior, or skills. Be open and receptive to their input, listening attentively without becoming defensive. Reflect on the feedback, identifying patterns and areas where you can make changes or improvements. Implement action plans to address these areas, track your progress, and follow up with those who provided feedback to show your commitment to growth. By actively seeking and valuing feedback, you demonstrate a willingness to learn, adapt, and become the best version of yourself.

Seeking feedback is a first step, but practicing accepting feedback that may not land as "true," so that you can consider it is a skill that needs to be developed. Learning to self-regulate, to approach such feedback with curiosity, and to live the adage, "you can't argue with feedback and win" needs to be cultivated and practiced.

I think it is important to make sure you obtain feedback from someone you trust to speak truth. I had a supervisor that went out of her way to be negative. I wasn't used to that, and had to take a step back and evaluate not only what she said, but whether or not it could be trusted. I used other people's feedback to help me have a more accurate picture of my efforts and performance.

In my experience seeking feedback is equally as important as giving feedback. Feedback should be collaborative. Feedback must be constructive and useful instead of superficial.

Reach out to mentors, coaches, or trusted colleagues who can provide guidance and support. They can offer insights and help you navigate challenging situations.

In the face of a toxic workplace, cultivating optimism and wielding emotional intelligence become vital tools for survival and success. By honing self-awareness and empathy, you can navigate the treacherous waters of negativity and preserve your mental well-being. Strategize your approach by setting clear boundaries, focusing on your goals, and identifying positive aspects of your work. Leverage your emotional intelligence to understand your own emotions and those of your colleagues, fostering a supportive network of allies. By cultivating optimism and utilizing emotional intelligence, you can rise above the toxicity and emerge as a beacon of resilience, inspiring change and fostering a healthier work environment for all.

In order to lead others, you have to have the ability to stay optimistic! It continues to promote a higher morale with your team.

I would characterize myself as an optimistic realist. I give others the benefit of the doubt. I would much rather approach the world in a trusting way than a testing way. I behave in a trustworthy way and I expect to be trusted. I don't believe that trust needs to be earned. Why would I embark on a relationship -- business or otherwise-- with someone I don't trust from the outset? I'm highly intuitive. I'm also realistic. I try to be aware of my surroundings. I lock my doors. I trust my gut. For me, trust is yours to lose. When it's lost, you're not getting it back. I try to lead by example. I also know when it's time to walk away.

We all have an opportunity to be positive and it is much more fun. Keep away from items that chip away at this. Be grateful for what you have and stop comparing. Keep learning and stay open for new experiences.

Optimism is simply looking for the good in any situation. Over time, as you learn to generate more high energy feelings, optimism will actually change the architecture of your brain! In other words, like anything else, optimism is a skill that can be practiced and learned.

If it’s really that hard just leave. I have in the past. I worried if it would work out but it did and I realised how bad it was. If you allow that type of behaviour for too long it undermines your confidence, causes stress and can take a long time to recover from. Life is short.

If you are in a toxic work environment, begin your plan and journey to leave. Start by reaching out to others in your network, update your resume, reach out to recruiters, start your side hustle but take action. In the interim make yourself your #1 priority and never react to what others say or do, respond with all of the grace and class within you as you know you are on your way out with your head held high.

It’s not always what we say, but how we say it. The way we communicate can either build bridges or walls. Our voice has the power to uplift or discourage, inspire or demoralize. It's not the message itself, but how it is delivered that determines its true impact.

You do not have to put up with toxic behavior long term. Resilience is good to carry you through one point to the next allowing you to make the journey however do not mistake resilience for permitting abuse. Determine if there is something more that you can do - have you defined your boundaries? Have you communicated them? Have you attempted to take action to self advocate for a supportive environment? Have you contacted any relevant authorities who may have power to influence the situation? Have you maintained your emotional balance? If so - determine if it is best to let go of the situation and save your energy for an environment that will be more supportive. You do not have to stay in spaces that consistently cause you harm.

Something not mentioned that often goes overlooked and frequently unseen is where you build your identity. It’s easy to build it on what others think of us, our careers, or the activities in our lives. Unfortunately, these are all extremely vulnerable to our circumstances and the words or actions of those around us. As a result, we can find ourselves constantly shifting with the tides around us, which is an uncomfortable and even unhealthy place to be. Getting clear on who we are and our purpose creates a more durable armor that can withstand the inevitable waves of attacks we encounter in our personal and professional lives.