When did workplace toxicity become a thing?
toxic?- adjective
tox· ic?|?\??t?k-sik??\
Containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation
Sounds pretty severe. Maybe a wee bit much for a workplace...unless its a chemical plant I suppose.
I'm seeing an interesting abundance of stories and opinions about toxic work environments and I feel compelled to inject my insights into this discussion.
Why has this topic gained such popularity might be a good place to start
I would suggest it was blown open by the lockdowns
We're getting annoyingly sensitive and have been for years, but the momentum of everyone going home and not going back to an office environment for months and even years, ripped off the scab and opened up this wound
For everyone who has worked in an honestly toxic environment, you have my empathy
Everyone else needs to stop whining
There are real problems in many work environments, but we are also irresponsibly encouraging people to be offended about everything.
If we keep isolating groups of people who need special treatment, where do we think that ends?
Weakness is not attractive or effective...hardship is reality...ergo, fortitude is a wonderful skill to have. How can we learn how to overcome hardship as a critical life skill in the absence of hardship?
The existing employment laws on the books in the US right now (correct me if I'm wrong) make any form of discrimination illegal and punishable by law.
Rather than try to control people's thoughts and words and actions, shouldn't we simply do a better job of accountability, enforcement and punishment?
I don't know about you, but if I have to worry about how I can think and what I can say, I'm not going.
Equity is a financial term
Inclusion? Why would you want to be part of any group or organization that didn't want you?
Diversity is what happens naturally when you leave people alone to make their own choices in a free society
Why is it that we don't have more Asians playing hockey? Why is it ok for 70% of the players in the NBA to be black when they make up 13% of the population
I could list a million more examples of the hypocrisy of diversity
People make choices based on upbringing, culture, personality, interests, competency and a variety of other innate and environmental conditions
Forcing behavior and thought is inhuman and unnatural. It's counterproductive and it's not sustainable
Ironically, the more we "force" diversity, inclusion and equity, the less effective and the more litigious we will become
Walking on eggshells is no way to live. Let's give everyone equal opportunity (done) and then reward performance and punish bad behavior.
I'm not naive. I know these situations often have nuance and complexity to them, but those are not the norm. Yes, bring compassion and kindness to all of these issues, but if everyone is just whining about everything, what does work look like in 5 years? 10 years?
No thanks
I got hired by a guy years ago, to, among other things, help him start a company. I had worked for him already for a couple of years when he presented me with the opportunity to start a new contract staffing firm.
He was the most influential professional mentor I had ever had in my career. He was a master manipulator. If he's reading this now he is no doubt smiling at my accusation. Smiling in agreement
One day he came out on the sales floor. My sales floor. And in front of all my people, he screamed at me. When he lost his shit, he was going for aggression and compliance, and he did it with harsh condescension.
I can't take conscious credit for why I did what I did...I just did it
I had a kid on the way, I was getting really good at this staffing thing...and I needed the job. I needed the money
Anyway, something snapped inside me. I asked him if he would come into his office and chat. I walked in and closed his door.
This description of what took place may fall in to the same category as my longest home run as a little leaguer...it's gets a few feet longer every time I tell the tale...but it's accurate at its core.
I'm grateful that my personal integrity was, in that moment, stronger than my fear. I knew I was risking losing it all, but I also knew that if I let him treat me that way, I would never be the same person again and that I would lose the respect of my team. Clear as day
I said, "I acknowledge that you sign my paycheck, I love this work and as you know I need this job, but if you ever yell at me in front of anyone again, I'm walking out that door and you'll never see me again".
I tell this story for two reasons
If you work in a toxic environment, you have two options
First
领英推荐
Split
Or
Do something about it
Second
I honestly don't remember his response in that moment, but it completely changed the way he treated me from then on. I gained a unique level of respect, additional responsibility, more money and invaluable mentorship for years to come
I'm not saying every toxic asshole can be turned around like this but you have a personal responsibility to try...whatever that might mean
The funny thing is, to this day, I'm not sure if he was just being the asshole that he was capable of being or if his behavior was a calculated way to test me and see if I had the stones he needed for the momentous task ahead:)
He was a master manipulator after all...
I've been a recruiter for 30 years and I've seen hundreds if not thousands of work environments. When you are helping a company hire critical skills talent (IT), you get a close-up view of the culture.
When I visit a client, I can tell within 5 minutes what the culture is like.
Are people smiling, calm, attentive, collaborative and friendly?
Or are people tense, frowning, distracted and aloof?
It only takes one person in a position of leadership who's an asshole to ruin an office culture and if you think someone is an asshole, there are two possibilities. Everyone else thinks he's an asshole too...or you're the asshole.
In order for certain people to bring toxic behavior to the workplace and allow it to remain, there have to be others that allow it...thereby condoning it
Once you allow toxicity into a culture, it's difficult to get rid of it. You need to meet it head on and immediately. Change it or leave
Most of the people I've helped and/or coached, are interested in leaving where they are working for some reason related to a sense of underappreciation.
I've seen way too many people who stay working in less than admirable environments because they can't muster up the courage to engage change. They have low self worth or they just don't recognize that other opportunities abound and that you just have to look in the right places in the right manner
While I agree that staying in a toxic environment is harmful, I also see many people who just don't stand up for themselves out of fear.
You can overcome these fears with information and guidance. That's what I do
We are now living in a culture where whining is encouraged and personal fortitude borders on fascism
The workplace should be an environment where opposing views are encouraged along with innovation and change.
In my experience, if you can't challenge someone's ideas it's got nothing to do with skin color, gender or sexual orientation.
It's a character flaw...and we all have those.
There are 2 areas of professional development that almost all my prospects and clients need to work on and help with
What should I really be doing professionally?...It's often not what they're doing now
And
What do I do and what makes me uniquely valuable to the market? What's my story
Without these two answers buttoned up, there is no reason to start looking yet.
If you get the vibe I'm sending, I'd love to help
The first step is to go download my free workbook "Find Your True Passion". It's very simple but difficult because it makes you look in the mirror...and stare
If you download "FYTP" you'll be on my email list and you may sample my fare as I share it through email until you need more from me or you can disconnect from the list at any time
If this article and/or workbook experience revs you up and you want more now, send me an email and we can set up a call - [email protected]
If you are easily "triggered", I'm not your man. If you have difficulty listening to opposing views, I'm not your man. If you seek blame before you look inward, I'm not your man
If you own your shit, but you just don't know what to do, I might be your man
If you're "stuck" and open to suggestion, let's dance for a sec and see what happens
Here's a link to the workbook again
Have a blessed day
Mark