Toxic work environments don’t fix themselves. We often don’t even realize we’re in the thick of one until the emotional and mental damage is already done. I know for me, cultivating a harmonious and family-like atmosphere has always been a priority for my family and myself. We see it reflected in our work culture at Memphis Invest.
But how do you fight a toxic work culture when you’ve been complicit in letting it develop? So many of us as professionals think of the workplace atmosphere as secondary, even tertiary to completing tasks and maximizing profit margins.
However, a passive attitude towards office culture is what can allow toxicity to take hold.
Here’s how you can stop it from happening.
5 Essentials for Reshaping a Toxic Workplace
1) Know It When You See It
A toxic workplace can be insidious. We don’t always know what it looks like, but we sure know how it feels! Workplace toxicity is not benign, either. In fact, it is one of the primary reasons high-performers quit their jobs.
What are some signs that a workplace is toxic? Here are just a few:
Chronic absenteeism / sick days
A sense of fear or “walking on eggshells”
An inability to make decisions
Poorly implemented company policies
Bad or lacking communication
Your personal health suffers. This includes sleep patterns, mental and physical well-being, and a negative mindset regarding work.
These are just some of the signs that a workplace is toxic. Once you begin to see or experience these things, you know that something has to change. But what?
2) Promote Transparency
One of the biggest causes of toxicity in the workplace comes down to a lack of transparency and poor communication. When you have a culture that values transparency across the company hierarchy, you send the message that your team is valued and trusted. It imparts the sense that you are all in this together for a greater purpose rather than resigned to seemingly aimless tasks day-in and day-out.
When you promote transparency, there is less room for confusion and more agency afforded to the workers. This empowers decision-making and problem-solving as your team is encouraged to share both success and struggle.
3) Align Your Values
Company values matter. No one hires people who all think exactly alike. Diversity in skills, personalities, and perspectives all help us reach our fullest potential. However, having one primary goal or value — and being on that same page — is a critical unifying quality.
We have to foster that sense of mission and purpose in our team. That means, first and foremost, communicating what your company truly wants to accomplish. What do you care about doing and putting into the world?
It helps to develop a culture book. We have one that we update every few years or so at Memphis Invest. This is a handbook that not only helps our clients see what we’re all about, but it guides our entire work philosophy and work ethic. Having these values and priorities in line means that everyone works together towards the same goals rather than clashing or competing.
4) Praise Good Work
Employees strive to feel effective and validated in the work that they do. As a leader, you need to be proactive in praising good work. Not only will this encourage employees who are doing a good job, but it will spur on others to give it their all. We all want to feel appreciated for what we’re doing. A lack of validation can lead to feelings of resentment or uncertainty.
Be quick to point out the positives. This should be given the same priority as fixing problems.
5) Level the Playing Field
Finally, workplace leaders have to hold everyone to the same standards — including themselves. Part of a healthy workplace environment is one in which fairness is prioritized. If you are treating some employees differently than others, whether in being more harsh with them or being too lenient, you breed resentment and discord among your team.
Hold yourself to the same ethical and performance standards you do everyone else. Don’t give anyone a pass on bullying, disrespect, and belittling. Instead, reward and punish everyone by the same metric. What you expect of yourself should be your model — then hold everyone to that standard.
Have you ever encountered a toxic workplace environment? Let me know how you handled it in the comments.