If I had a magic wand, I would foster a company culture absent of toxicity. While there are some common characteristics of a toxic workplace, I would suggest most people can recognize a toxic workplace when they see one and even more people know what one looks like because theyβve had the displeasure of working in one.
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β’ Leaders and managers set the tone for a company.
β’ Owners and all levels of management are responsible for what are acceptable norms and behaviour in the workplace.
β’ While everyone in an organization must be held accountable for their actions (or inactions), those in control cannot claim to be hapless bystanders.
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Iβve come to view toxicity in the workplace as a somewhat silent killer, like carbon monoxide entering your home. It can start undetected and gradually increase with wide ranging, even dire consequences. If employees are able, they will flee a toxic workplace as soon as they can. But, what about those employees who are unable to leave because of financial insecurity, lack of perceived (or real) alternatives, fear of the unknown, etc.? These employees disengage and stay in an environment that breeds decreased morale, distrust, resentment, fear and stress, which all lead to a real reduction in productivity. The best way to handle workplace toxicity is prevention and vigilance as it may not be possible for even a skilled management team to later reverse its harmful effects.
Thank you for inviting me to be a guest poster. It was a fun thought exercise and really caused me to focus on a singular change that could have the greatest impact on a company.