10 Useful Tips to Help You Survive Toxic Leadership

I started working when I was fresh out of high school. Like most young people, I worked at several popular fast food chains while I put myself through college. It was a horribly demeaning experience that took a toll on my mental and physical health. I thought earning a degree would help me escape the toxic work culture.

Through personal experience, I learned that toxic work culture was an invasive issue in many industries. It was in my best interest to learn how to survive this less than ideal situation that I found myself in. Here are the tips and tricks I learned from both experience and positive role models:

Focus on your work.

Maintain professionalism, and focus on delivering quality results to the best of your ability. Document all the work that you've completed and submitted. Keep a backup of your files in an easily accessible place.

Be organized and methodical in your work, as this will save you later.

Set and respect boundaries.

Politely, yet firmly, protect your personal and professional boundaries. If you allow someone to violent them, you risk it turning into a larger problem.

Contrarily, respect the boundaries that others set with you. Doing otherwise will corner you professionally and destroy key relationships with team members.

Document interactions.

Keep records of important communications and events to safeguard yourself. Include the date, time, location, and all parties involved. Be as thorough in your records as you can. More importantly, gather as much supporting evidence as you can.

Should any trouble arise, this documentation will protect you from any unjust accusations.

Seek support from trusted team members.

Connect with team members that you trust, and cultivate professional relationships efficiently. Consider utilizing platforms like LinkedIn to connect with team members long term. More importantly, ask questions and listen to the advice given to you by more experienced team members. This will help you in future endeavors.

Develop coping mechanisms.

Practice stress management techniques like meditation, deep breathing, exercise and journaling. Take little breaks throughout the day to better handle your stress, even if it's a few moments of deep breathing. This can help you maintain your composure during stressful situations.

Look for learning opportunities.

Working in a toxic environment is exhausting, but it can be an opportunity for positive growth. In fact, reshaping how you view this situation can help you deal with it better. Instead of allowing toxic behavior to bother you, watch and learn from their mistakes to better yourself as a professional.

Seek advice from healthy team members, and actively listen to what they have to tell you. Incorporate their suggestions, and never shy away from accepting accountability for your mistakes.

Communicate clearly and constructively.

Communicate clearly with a level head and a set goal. Every interaction should be a linear discussion about a single topic that leads into another. Be tactful, methodical and logical in how you choose to interact and who you choose to do that with. Consider a situation from all angles, and strive to take that situation in a positive direction.

For instance, a micromanager lacks trust in their team to handle the tasks given to them. Whether it's ego or fear driven matters in how you deal with the situation. Someone that acts from a place of fear can be reasoned with. Clearly outline your understanding of a task, and then request clarification of their expectations of you. This person is likely struggling to effectively communicate their needs.

However, an ego-driven micromanager feels superior to you. Working with them effectively demands that you strive to understand their thought process. Once you understand how they think, you can brainstorm ways to work around or with it.

Develop yourself professionally.

Set a career goal, and work diligently to improve yourself professionally. Gaining new skills, new knowledge, and new experiences will boost your value in the job market. You'll need this to secure a better position.

Plan your exit.

Gather contact information from potential references. Update your resume, clean up your professional social media accounts, and focus on growing to fit your desired role. Connect with professionals in roles that you want or industries you're working to succeed in.

Protect your wellbeing.

Your job does not come before your well-being or that of your family. Prioritizing your mental and physical health above all else is not cutting into company profits or letting your team down. Being professional includes being able to set and maintain healthy boundaries.

Four hours of meticulous work is better than ten hours of unfocused work.

Progress is hard, but you'll get there.

I understand what you're going through, and it's absolutely exhausting. Navigating these challenges can feel overwhelming, but your resilience and determination are leading you toward something better. All your hard work will pay off, and you'll find a position that not only values your skills but also aligns with your goals and aspirations. Remember, every step you take is progress, and brighter opportunities are on the horizon. Stay focused, take care of yourself, and trust that your efforts will bring the success you deserve.