Toxic Workplace
In reading this blog post regarding emotional intelligence and the toxic workplace https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-emotionally-intelligent-people-struggle-most-toxic-elise-dyer-ogoie/, I wanted to add my experiences from guests on my podcast “The Career Guy” and my own personal encounters in my career on the topic of a toxic workplace.
I would agree with Elise Dyer in that a toxic work environment stems from poor leadership. It is this that creates ambiguity, resulting in poorly defined roles where duties and responsibilities are not adequately fulfilled. In the end, there is a dysfunctional workplace. Good work and ambition are not recognized and are replaced by blame that leads to bullying. This is a toxic workplace.
It is this character trait that escapes the eyes of higher management, which I believe makes toxic workplaces more prevalent in larger organizations. Not saying that it is only there, but it is indicative, as it is easier to hide dysfunctions in a larger company than in a smaller one. Therefore, examining leadership, which in turn builds culture, is why this blog is focusing on these two categories. There is a conclusion with final thoughts.
Leadership is a skill
As mentioned, the lack of leadership seems to be the key to toxic environments. My interview with Monique Daigneault https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/life-lessons, a leadership coach, points out that people are not trained to be leaders. People climb the corporate ladder with their technical ability. But when it comes to leading people, it is often overlooked that this is a skill as well. It is underrated. In fact, it may be harder to deal with people than technical issues. But our society does not view it this way and therefore places people in positions without the proper skills and training to be leaders. In essence, not everyone can lead people, and even if they can, it is still a learned skill.
Culture
My interview with Katie O’Malley https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/nbspmaking-a-difference discusses her experiences at the University of Texas. She did not share the same point of view as the more seasoned faculty and staff when she arrived in this position. These challenges resulted in bullying, leading to what she describes as a toxic work environment in her interview. She was fortunate that she could, and did, leave.
With respect to culture, there is a bearing on the exposure we have been accustomed to. We think that the environment we are in and the way others and we are treated is normal. It is a learned behavior. It is not until someone like Katie comes into the picture and challenges the traditional thinking, disrupting the norm. This creates resistance, and this is why change is so hard. And in this case, why toxic environments still exist and will continue to do so. In other words, we are slowly learning about topics like emotional intelligence and how behavior can affect others.
Also, change can happen, but it is gradual in organizations. As Katie points out, it is a learned behaviour, and for change to manifest, a new type of behaviour has to be accepted. This requires new leadership and personnel to follow. Sometimes it is not accepted, and companies revert to their old ways. Sometimes there is progress, but minimal. It is important to ask oneself what the effects are on them as individuals and what the cost is of staying opposed to leaving.
Conclusion.
Abusive behavior is tolerated because organizations do not know how to deal with it. And it is learned behaviour. Change is hard, and for it to happen, organizations have to want to change. More importantly, this comes on a personal level. Some people, like Kaite, leave, while others seek assistance from someone like Monique. It is about understanding that there is a better way of doing things.
It is important to recognize that toxic environments diminish good work. It stifles creativity, as people become more cautious and take fewer risks. Personally, it can have lasting effects. A toxic workplace or any toxic relationship is hard. It robs a person of their self-esteem, confidence, and, more importantly, their peace of mind. We know when we are in one, and at times it can be hard to leave, especially work-related (a person needs to make a living). Leaving may provide instant relief. However, as with anything abusive, there are toxins that do build up, creating layers of damage that can come back and haunt a person later in life. Therefore, setting up boundaries can make a situation tolerable, but again, what are the residual effects?
There are no quick remedies; knowing and acknowledging is the first step in creating a peaceful life. This is something society does not acknowledge, but it does exist in many facets of our lives. I hope this blog has provided some insight into an overlooked topic. Thanks for reading.