Introduction
An organisation that exhibits signs of a toxic work culture is where the management styles and rules bring about unpleasant behaviours and lead to conflict among employees. It may be detrimental to workers, keeping them from developing professionally and being productive. The undesirable behaviours in the workplace would trigger employees to move to another organisation. Toxic workplace cultures are, in part, institutional-centric; the organisation creates its own rules and regulations, not the ones that benefit its employees. Negative workplace cultures also frequently include antiquated work practices, such as requiring employees to work from the office, that are erroneously believed to maximise productivity or provide benefits and perks that are inexpensive for the business but difficult for employees to obtain.
Toxic Work Culture Examples
- Lack of respect among team members.
- Poor communication in the organisation
- Poor teamwork
- Work overload
- Biased mindset
- Less growth in the organisation
Signs Of Toxic Work Culture
- Information in a Single Direction: One of the main signs of a toxic work culture is that information is typically communicated in a single direction, with higher authorities giving instructions to their employees. Workers are hesitant to ask questions to their managers or higher authorities, which can lead to a barrier and resulting errors in the organisation. Policies support people, but when an enterprise consistently prioritises policies over people, a toxic workplace culture can develop.
- Mistakes: Mistakes will inevitably be made; even the most seasoned workers can’t accomplish everything flawlessly all the time, so you have to allow for it. If management treats every policy violation or transgression as a ground for discipline, you are working in a toxic environment where people are generally overly anxious and risk-averse.
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How To Change A Toxic Work Culture
- Trust among employees: A sense of strong trust can be developed among employees by having an open-door policy and an effective, transparent communication system that allows employees to feel comfortable speaking with management. When there is an absence of trust and poor communication inside an organisation, toxic circumstances rapidly spiral out of control. A high degree of trust among team members and the leadership promotes effective and harmonious teamwork. It not only prevents employees from participating in toxic behaviours in the first place, but it also assists leaders in recognising and handling toxic behaviours before they result in problems on a team.
- Feedback exchange: Regular feedback exchanges not only help leaders spot potentially toxic situations and address them before they escalate, but they also play an important role in assisting team members in correcting courses when necessary. This input is intended to assist staff members in producing their best work, doing it well, and providing better support to their colleagues. Because it gives people an opportunity and a means of communicating when faced with any issues that could be generating conflict, when done effectively, it should also increase employees’ overall job satisfaction and general well-being. Feedback, however, must be given both ways for it to be most successful. In addition to giving workers a voice, this fosters a sense of trust in the leadership and helps avert toxic circumstances.
- One-on-one communication can resolve conflict and toxic situations: Employees may face conflict regarding their roles and responsibilities on a daily basis. Conflicts can arise with co-workers, which could lead to toxic situations. Maintaining a one-on-one interaction can achieve clear communicative expectations.
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How To Deal With Toxic Work Culture
It is required to take all the important steps to maintain your sense of positivity and productivity when working in a toxic work culture. Try the following suggestion to help you deal with a toxic workplace.
- It’s time to unwind after work: Find activities to unwind after a demanding and long week of work. Look out for distractions from work, including working out at the gym or doing home tasks, rather than focusing on the things that happened during the day. Concentrate on what you would do after work.
Plan on what you would do after work, such as:
- Write down your thoughts or journal those emotions.
- Read a book.
- Work Out
- Dance to your favourite music
- Plan a vacation with loved ones
2. The key is to be Positive
It is essential to have a positive view of every difficult situation at work. It is a task to be positive in a difficult situation, but remember what you enjoy at work and focus on that thought.
3. Meditation
During your work break, spend a few minutes practising meditation. To encourage relaxation, try this mind-body technique. Pay close attention to each breath you take. Once you’ve done so, give yourself a few seconds before you open your eyes.
4. Work during work hours.
When you arrive home after work, try to put your job problems behind you. Although venting could be therapeutic, once you’re inside your home, try to avoid talking about work-related issues. Disconnecting from work and the different problems that crop up during the workweek can improve your mood and keep the issue from getting worse.
5. Humour at the workplace? Yes.
It is essential to have a positive view of everything, especially in the workplace. It’s always best to find the humour in a situation. Having a family member or someone close to you share a daily experience is a good idea.
6. A break is a must.
Take some time off from your desk, move to a different spot for a cup of coffee, or have your meal elsewhere. By initiating this, you will have some time to yourself and allow yourself the time you need to return to work focused and prepared to take on whatever the work brings to you.
7. List it all out.
List all the tasks you are required to complete. The best time to list everything is before going to bed. A simple task such as scheduling your day according to the next day’s work can give you a better sense of clarity.
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Conclusion
The impact of a toxic work culture on a person’s well-being can be reduced to coping mechanisms such as Relaxation techniques, Mindfulness exercises and Psychological Detachment. Meet with a therapist who may educate you more on coping mechanisms if you find yourself experiencing symptoms of distress that are present and are getting in the way of your everyday life.
References
(https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/toxicity-organizational-culture-impacts-reasons-how-improve–3gwnf?trk=articles_directory)
(https://www.healthline.com/health/toxic-work-environment#tips-for-managing-a-toxic-work-culture)
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