10 Tips to Avoid Joining a Toxic Workplace

We all want to work in an environment where we can grow, develop and thrive. However, more than 75% of people are unhappy at work. A key contributor is the tendency to accept a job without critically evaluating the position, people, and company. We tend to view interviews as a time to sell ourselves, while interviewers are focused on assessing candidates. However, it is critical that you take the opportunity to assess who you will be working for and with as well as the environment. Clearly, selling yourself is the first step to receiving a job offer, but evaluating the company is also key.

Once an offer is extended, candidates tend to have limited onsite access to the organization. Analyzing the company should not be deferred until after an offer is received. A great deal of information about a potential employer can be obtained through multiple sources, but there is no substitute for firsthand observation. Therefore, direct due diligence should be performed throughout the interview process. The behaviors exhibited during interviews and in the workplace are often reflective of the organization’s future behavior. You should take a candid inventory of behaviors and reflect upon how well they fit your style and values.

There is a significant correlation between job satisfaction and the relationships we have with managers and peers at work. Given this connection, you must thoroughly look for signs of toxic people and the environments they create and thrive in. Unfortunately, recognizing toxic personalities is not easy. Toxic people can be quite charismatic when they want to be and are skillful at managing perceptions. In order to identify such people and environments, you must be incredibly attentive to all visual and audio cues.

Toxic people in the workplace tend to exhibit a common set of behaviors that create untenable work conditions. The following considerations can help you identify warning signs and evaluate the environment:

1. Respect – Are interviewers timely, responsive and polite during discussions, phone calls and emails? Lack of consideration during initial interactions can indicate general disregard for coworkers.
2. Attention – Do people pay attention to what you are saying and focus on getting to know you? Lack of focus can indicate poor people-skills.
3. Process – How seamless is the interview process from start to finish? Lack of a transparent approach can indicate limited direction or knowledge of the role.
4. Energy – Do employees seem enthusiastic and energized at work? Lack of passion in the workplace can signify an environment that drains energy and esteem.
5. Impression – How do you feel after meeting with various employees? Lack of comfort can indicate an uneasy work environment and can also limit your ability to fully evaluate the company.
6. Openness – Do people share candid comments about the organization, their experiences, and the role? Lack of openness may suggest there is something being hidden.
7. Warmth – When walking around the office, how do people treat each other? Lack of kindness between co-workers at all levels is a significant issue.
8. Intelligence – Do the people you meet seem astute and able to teach you? Lack of pervasive skills and a willingness to teach may indicate that the company will not enable you to learn and grow.
9. Motivation – What sources of inspiration does the company leverage? Lack of a thoughtful set of measures and incentives can indicate that the company is not investing in employees.
10. Communication – How are updates, major events, and news communicated across the company? Lack of an explicit communication approach can indicate that internal “gossip” is the primary mechanism of communication.

To answer these questions, you will need to pay close attention to body language, word choice, what is said and not said, and your general feelings. Again, these observations and reflections should be complemented with other sources of information. However, direct observation and candid self-reflection can dramatically reduce the risk of joining a toxic work environment.