Sadly, many people work in offices or with organizations that have deeply rooted toxic work cultures and practices. It’s easy to assume that things are just the way they are and there’s nothing you can do. But nobody should be forced to work in a toxic workplace! Here are the signs to look out for so you can avoid the long-term problems that result from a bad work environment.
- Management playing favourites - Managers who play favorites don’t just reward good performance, they give undeserving employees perks just because they like them.
- Forced to protect yourself from co-workers - It feels like co-workers are out to get you and you’ve got to waste a lot of time ensuring you’ve cc’d the right people and are not going to be “caught” making a mistake.
- Teenage ‘mean kids’ cliques form - Even though they don’t outwardly and openly state their views, groups of negative and sneering employees undermine every company initiative, and isolate those that don't belong to the group.
- Hiring unqualified team members - When the newly hired staff is only there because they’ve got friends high up, it shows immediately.
- Inequality - Sometimes there’s an individual who is a star employee, so they get away with bad behaviour. Other times it’s the bad behaviour of one of the company leaders that sets a terrible example. And other times there is simply a clever but malicious employee who has the ear of management. The individual acts as though they don’t need to follow the rules, and management allows it.
Even if your workplace is a toxic one all hope is not lost. The first step is identifying the problem, and then you’ve got the option to work to make it better. Working with an Executive Coach will help you build your confidence and develop the skills that you need to thrive and survive in your workplace!
Endless Possibilities Executive Coaching is located in Vancouver, B.C. and works with client throughout North America.
