Toxic work cultures make Best People Quit!
Brigette Hyacinth
CEO & Founder @Leadership EQ ?? Keynote Speaker ?? Best Selling Author ?? Consultant
Whenever a boss acts like a dictator – shutting down, embarrassing, or firing anyone who dares to challenge the status quo – you’ve got a toxic workplace problem. And that’s not just because of the boss’ bad behavior, but because that behavior creates an environment in which everyone is scared, intimidated and often willing to throw their colleagues under the bus, just to stay on the good side of the such bosses.
A toxic company culture will erode an organization by paralyzing its workforce, diminishing its productivity and stifling creativity and innovation. Now more than ever business leaders need to be addressing issues of workplace toxicity. It makes the difference in retaining good staff and also whether your company fails or succeeds. Employees aren’t afraid to jump ship when faced with a toxic workplace—and it's usually your high performers who will go first.
The biggest concern for any organization should be when their most passionate people become quiet.
10 Signs your workplace culture is Toxic
- Company core values do not serve as the basis for how the organization functions.
- Employee suggestions are discarded. People are afraid to give honest feedback.
- Micromanaging -Little to no autonomy is given to employees in performing their jobs.
- Blaming and punishment from management is the norm.
- Excessive absenteeism, illness and high employee turn over.
- Overworking is a badge of honor and is expected.
- Little or strained interaction between employees and management.
- Gossiping and/or social cliques.
- Favoritism and office politics.
- Aggressive or bullying behavior.
What’s the cure for a toxic work culture?
While toxic work cultures are the end result of many factors, it’s generally a combination of poor leadership and individuals who perpetuate the culture. It starts with those at the top. Leaders must show - Respect, Integrity, Authenticity, Appreciation, Empathy and Trust.
Toxicity in the workplace is costly. Unhappy or disengaged employees cost companies billions of dollars each year in lost revenues, settlements and other damages. Once you identify the major problems by gathering information. Develop a plan and follow through. It may mean training, moving or simply getting rid of bad bosses who are the root cause of toxicity in the work place. Show employees you care and are committed to improving their workplace environment. Your employees can be your greatest asset but it all depends on how you treat them.
Sadly, if you do not cure the cancer in the root of the tree, not only with the branches and leaves die; but so will the tree.
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To Your continued Success!?
?Cheers! ??????????
Life Should Not Be Lived in Fear
3 年A toxic workplace is where everyone is expected to be exceptional at all times, therefore the best you can hope for is "Meets Expectations" on your annual review.
Senior Director
3 年I would say, job saving is the wrong attitude. Everyone does what can, and nobody does, what can not is the right attitude.
HRBP | Driving Organizational Transformation through Strategic Talent Solutions | Compliance Expert | HR Process Optimization and Organization Setup | Masterful in Talent Acquisition.
4 年True.
President at mythbusterleadership.com - Director at Gestion conseil / Coaching AGi - Engineer - General Manager
4 年I am sorry if i’m going to offend someone, but that’s yet another example where experts failed miserably at helping fix toxic cultures in the last few decades and keep following the money trail they created. leadership business has grown to multi-billion dollar and there’s been no improvement. Toxic cultures even reached into politics now. ??How to fix a toxic culture??? ??Find out the major reason, make a plan and follow through?? I am sure this won’t help the almost 3000 that commented on this. Or near 100,000 that liked. the root cause for toxic cultures is always the same, very predictable, and easy to fix. Once you know how. I even tell you I have developed a process so you can become a ??toxic environment fixer?? youself. Don’t even need me. Its a training program/process, web based, self-directed, custom, unique, anti-establishment, that is proven. And its not following the money trail. packs 20+ years of experience in managing in, then fixing, toxic environments plus 4+ years of consulting specializing in helping others fix theirs. 10 to 30 percent productivity gains, reducing turn-over by 2-3 fold, etc... Now you can either believe, or not. Have managerial courage, or not. Make a difference, or not. Be genuine.
Open to new opportunities
4 年Indeed