How to spot a toxic workplace

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Picture this: you wake up every morning dreading the thought of starting your workday. Your energy is drained, your creativity is stifled, and your mental health is taking a serious nosedive.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon scenario and could be indicative of a toxic workplace that is negatively impacting your career and personal life.

That said, spotting a toxic workplace is not always easy.

In the last 6 months alone, I have coached many of my clients on navigating this exact situation. For some, it involved helping them leave their toxic workplace and land their dream job in a new company. For others, it involved supporting them to overcome PTSD effects from their former toxic boss despite being in a great new workplace. For others, it was preparing them for interviews and networking conversations to properly assess a future workplace they were considering.

A supportive, healthy workplace will absolutely propel your career forward, while a toxic one can sabotage your growth and have severe consequences on your health.

Now of course, no one is looking to enter into a work environment where toxic behaviours are the norm.

These behaviours typically stem from one of 3 sources: a toxic boss, toxic coworkers or a toxic work culture. Sometimes, it is only one of these sources affecting you. Other times, it may be all them. Whichever it may be, it is imperative that you recognize these signs early on.

That said, it can be challenging to truly vet these workplaces to know what you are walking into. Toxic workplaces can manifest in various forms, from subtle micro-aggressions and lack of communication to overtly abusive behaviours and unreasonable demands.

Often, these signs are not immediately apparent, but by recognizing these red flags, it will save you from the detrimental effects of a harmful work environment and ensure you prioritize the "you" in your career equation.

Whether you are starting out in your career, eyeing that next big role, or curious about what makes a workplace thrive versus those that falter, we will break it all down here together.

Peak performers know that they must put their needs first and be the change they want to see should a work environment not serve their best interests.

This involves taking proactive efforts to set yourself up for the most success through due diligence, intuition and intentional action-taking.

Here's how.

Key mistakes doing more harm than good

We all know that the wrong work environment can derail even the most promising careers, affecting not just our job performance but also our mental and emotional well-being. You definitely want to equip yourself to make informed decisions so that your next job is a step forward in a positive, supportive environment.

With that in mind, here are 5 mistakes to avoid:

→ Ignoring red flags during interviews: Many professionals are so focused on impressing their potential employer that they overlook subtle signs of toxicity. It is important to remember that interviews are a two-way street where you are also evaluating whether the company is a good fit for you. Being asked illegal questions (i.e. questions about your age, ethnicity, or country of origin that hold no bearing on your candidacy for the role but rather bias the interview process), not being allowed to speak to other team members, or going through a disorganized interview process are all example red flags to look out for.

→ Not asking the right questions: Failing to ask questions about company culture, team dynamics, and management style can leave you in the dark about the true nature of the workplace. Prepare thoughtful questions that reveal the work environment. For example, asking questions around employee well-being, typical working hours, collaboration amongst departments, management style, etc... will be solid indicators of what kind of company it is and if it aligns with your values.

→ Overlooking employee reviews and ratings: Sites like Glassdoor and Indeed can provide valuable insights from current and former employees. Ignoring these resources can result in missing out on critical information about workplace conditions. That said, do not simply rely on this either. Proactive outreach to current and former employees will be your best gauge.

→ Accepting the first job offer without comparison: I know the excitement of receiving a job offer, especially after a long job search, feels good but do not let that excitement cloud your judgment. Compare multiple offers, and weigh the pros and cons of each workplace culture. The last thing you want is to jump at the first offer and end up in a toxic environment because you did not explore other options or do sufficient due diligence.

→ Neglecting gut feelings: If something feels off during the hiring process, it probably is. Trust your instincts and investigate any concerns thoroughly before committing to a new role. For example, I was recently supporting a client interviewing for a new role. She had 5 rounds of interviews and although she was a great fit for the role, each interview was sharing conflicting information versus the last. This did not sit well with my client which led her to turn down the role because she knew this would translate into a messy onboarding and other issues once in the position.

3 strategies on how to spot a toxic workplace

1/ Spotting a toxic workplace in interviews

Job interviews are not just about showcasing your skills, experience, and building connection, but also a critical opportunity to assess whether the company is the right fit for you.

Beyond making it conversational, this is your opportunity to ask questions that will give you the right sense of company culture, team dynamic and management style. Through a keen eye and strategic questioning, interviews can reveal a lot about a company that is not always obvious from just doing a Google search or looking at their LinkedIn company page.

You must go beyond superficial attractions and pay attention to subtle warning signs. For example, dismissive behaviour from the hiring manager, vague answers about team dynamics, and lack of enthusiasm from current employees are all indicators that should raise concern. Ignoring these signs can lead to months of stress and dissatisfaction in a toxic environment that could have otherwise been avoided.

Spotting a toxic workplace during an interview involves digging deeper and not being afraid to ask tough questions.

Here are 5 action steps to empower you in this:

→ Observe the office atmosphere: Pay attention to the overall vibe of the office if this is an in person interview. Look for signs of stress, tension, or unhappiness among employees. A vibrant, energetic environment is usually a positive sign, whereas a tense, quiet office can indicate underlying issues. At the very least, this could be something to inquire about in your interview to suss out what the day-to-day dynamic looks like for employees. If it is a virtual interview, zone in on the body language of those you meet with. For example, stiff posture, a lack of engagement with you, or distracting body language (i.e. your interviewer keeps checking their phone) could signal warning signs of this work environment.

→ Ask direct questions: Prepare specific questions that delve into the company’s culture and work environment. Questions like, “Can you describe the team’s approach to handling stress during tight deadlines?” or “How does the company support employee growth and development?” or "What is the company's stance on experimentation in a new employee's learning curve?" can provide valuable insights. You can also go further to ask questions about "What is the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?" or "What is 1 thing you would like solved in the first 60 days of joining the team?" as this will also give you direct insight into where their focus is and how you can directly position yourself as the solution to their problems.

→ Watch for evasive answers: Take note of how the interviewer responds to questions about company culture and employee satisfaction. Vague or overly polished answers can be red flags indicating that there may be issues they do not want to disclose. If they deflect your questions, this could also be a sign there is something they are avoiding sharing with you.

→ Seek multiple perspectives: Request to speak with future colleagues or team members, not just the hiring manager. Different perspectives can provide a more comprehensive view of the workplace dynamics and help identify any inconsistencies in the information provided to you. The interviewers themselves will obviously skew you towards having a favourable view of the role, while speaking to active and former employees will provide the real low-down into the pros and cons of working there.

→ Evaluate the interview process: A well-organized, respectful, and transparent process usually reflects positively on the company’s culture because interviews are a first gateway into how employees are treated. If they are setting the right tone with you from the outset, it is likely a good sign of how things will transpire once hired. In contrast, a disorganized, rushed, or impersonal interview process can be indicative of broader organizational issues.

[Check out my recent newsletter issue on How to secure more job offers from interviews]

2/ Spotting a toxic workplace in networking conversations

The right types of networking conversations can be quite revealing of a company’s true culture, management style, and overall work environment. These insights are often more candid compared to what you might hear during formal interviews, especially if speaking with people actively in your eventual team or former employees who recently left the company.

Unlike interviews, where responses are often more polished, networking conversations tend to be more relaxed and honest. This openness will also help identify whether a workplace is supportive and healthy or engrained with toxic behaviours.

Do not simply rely on third-party sites like Glassdoor as these reviews do not always provide the bigger picture you require to make the right decision for your next steps. For example, perhaps a review will share frustration around how the company culture is fast-paced leading to frequent changes that make it hard to keep up with work. When in reality, this is the type of work environment you truly enjoy compared to slower-paced ones you have experienced prior.

At the very least, these reviews can help you dig deeper in your networking conversations to identify if this would pose a problem for you or not. As a result, leveraging these interactions effectively can save you from making career moves that lead to dissatisfaction and stress.

With that in mind, it is key to approach these conversations strategically by asking the right questions and listening carefully to responses to discern the subtleties of a workplace culture.

Here are 5 steps to help you spot a toxic workplace through networking conversations:

→ Engage in casual chats: Approach current or former employees in a relaxed manner, either through LinkedIn or email. Casual, friendly conversations can often yield more honest insights about their experiences at the company. Be curious about their experience and show genuine interest in the other person and what they have to share. This will also make them feel more comfortable opening up to you as someone they only recently met.

→ Listen for consistent themes: Pay attention to recurring comments about management style, team collaboration, and job satisfaction. If multiple people mention the same issues, such as lack of support or high stress levels, it could be indicative of a major red flag.

→ Ask about team stability or recent restructuring: High employee turnover can indicate dissatisfaction and toxicity at work. This is especially relevant if there was a change in management or recent layoffs. Questions like, “How long do people typically stay at your company/in this department?” as well as "What would the growth trajectory in this role look like?" provide valuable information about the workplace stability and culture.

→ Be discreet but direct: Frame your questions in a way that encourages honesty without putting your contact on the spot. For example, ask, “What do you enjoy most and least about working there?” or "If you could improve 1 thing in your role tomorrow, what would it be and why?". This approach can elicit candid responses without making the person uncomfortable.

→ Follow-up with specific examples: Ask for specific examples or stories that illustrate the company’s culture. Phrases like, “Can you share a time when you felt particularly supported or unsupported at work?” or "How would you describe the way conflict is handled within the team?" can help reveal deeper insights into the everyday work environment.

[Check out my recent newsletter issue on How to build a strong professional network]

3/ Spotting a toxic workplace once you have started a new job

As much as you may have done your due diligence prior to accepting your new role, there could be unexpected issues that arise that pose concerns for you.

That is why it is crucial to remain vigilant in those first few weeks and months. Even if everything seemed perfect during the interview process, the true nature of a workplace often reveals itself only once you are fully immersed in the day-to-day operations.

The initial onboarding period, for one, will set the tone of your new role. This is when you can observe the company’s culture, team dynamics, and management style up close. Subtle cues such as how colleagues interact, the level of support from your manager (or lack thereof), and the organization of the onboarding process itself can provide significant insights. Pay close attention to these details to ensure the workplace aligns with your expectations and professional values.

Being proactive and attentive during this period can help you spot red flags before they become major issues. It is not just about adapting to the new environment but also about assessing whether this environment is conducive to your growth and well-being in the way you hoped it would initially.

Here are 5 actions to evaluate your new workplace and ensure it is somewhere you can thrive:

→ Evaluate the onboarding process within the first 30 days: A well-structured and comprehensive onboarding program, including training, team integrations, access to resources, understanding of day-to-day processes, etc... indicates that the company values its employees and is invested in their success. Disorganized or minimal onboarding can be a sign of deeper organizational issues that will catch up to you with more time in the role.

→ Observe team interactions: Watch how team members communicate and collaborate. Are meetings productive and inclusive? Do colleagues support each other, or is there a blame culture? Do people seem genuinely excited and energized in their work or frustrated and unhappy? I supported one of my recent clients to leave her toxic job and land her dream role elsewhere and we focused heavily on the initial onboarding together. In applying my best practices for effective onboarding, she set herself up for immediate success and quickly saw how much healthier this new workplace was for her.

→ Assess the support from management: Take note of how your manager interacts with you and the team. Effective managers provide clear guidance, constructive feedback, and support for your professional development. Frequent unavailability or dismissiveness from your manager can be a red flag. Also, ask yourself if this negative kind of behaviour is specific to your department or something you are noticing across the entire company, as the latter may be a more telltale sign of your path forward in this company.

→ Monitor workload and expectations: Keep track of your workload and the expectations placed on you. Unrealistic deadlines, constant overtime, and lack of recognition for your work are not ideal signs. Having open conversations with your boss at the outset of your new role will help gauge their expectations better and allow you to learn the exact objectives you are being evaluated against. This will serve as your roadmap for check-ins, follow-ups and focusing your time and energy on what matters most.

→ Seek feedback: Actively seek feedback from your peers and supervisors about your performance and their experiences. Do not be shy to raise your concerns to learn why things are the way they are. For example, if the work you are tasked to do is actually quite different than what you had signed up for in the interview process, this should absolutely be addressed to understand where the gap is coming from and how you can realign with the initial expectation.

[Check out my newsletter issue on How to succeed in you new job with confidence]

How will you spot a toxic workplace?

The environment you choose to work in plays a crucial role in your overall happiness and success. By actively applying these strategies to spot toxic workplaces during interviews, networking conversations, and even once you have started a new job, you can make better informed decisions that prioritize your goals and well-being. Do not settle for less. You deserve to thrive in a workplace that celebrates your potential and aligns with your values.

You've got this!

This week's mission is aimed at helping you spot a toxic workplace. Leverage the below prompts and action steps to prioritize your goals and well-being. This will allow you to be more proactive and intentional in assessing your next steps and set yourself up for the most success.

1/ Prepare for interviews:

• Create a list of at least 5 specific questions to ask in your next job interview that will help you uncover the true nature of the company's culture.
• Focus on questions that probe into management style, team dynamics, and employee satisfaction.
• Practice asking these questions confidently to ensure you are ready to gather the insights you need.

2/ Network with intention:

• Reach out to 3 professionals currently working in companies you are interested in, as well as 2 professionals who recently left your target company.
• Engage them in conversations about their experiences, focusing on company culture, leadership style, employee day-to-day dynamics and management practices.
• Ask about their likes and dislikes, and pay attention to any recurring themes or red flags. Use their insights to inform your decision making on whether this sounds like the right environment for you.

3/ Evaluate your new job:

• During your first month in a new job, keep a journal to record your observations about the workplace. Note details about the onboarding process, team interactions, management support, and workload expectations.
• Reflect on these observations regularly to assess whether the work environment aligns with your professional values and well-being. If you spot any red flags, take action by discussing your concerns with your manager or HR and see what change is willing to be made.

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