9 Signs of a Toxic Work Environment
Posted on August 31, 2021 by Brian Kail, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
How you can identify if you are working in a toxic, and dysfunctional work environment. #toxicwork #toxic environment
The biggest block to a healthy Business Quality of Life (BQL) is to be in a toxic work environment. How bad can it get? Ultimately, you need to be the judge. But below are some signs of a toxic work environment that can help you decide.
1) Excessive Anger: Co-workers, including management, exhibit anger. You feel a lot of tension in the work environment, as though you were “walking on eggs”. You sense that you have little or no support.2) Overly Critical: Your management demeans you, or others on a regular basis. You hear comments that “they can’t do anything right”, “he/she can’t do anything right”. You, or peers are criticized in business meetings. You feel you can’t satisfy your boss no matter what you do.
3) Avoidance: Your boss or management avoids you. You get feedback from your boss, or management that you are “not owning your job”, or are needing their support too often.
4) Address Problems: Your organization ignores, or denies chronic problems. Your boss, or management wants to avoid hearing about your concerns. You sense that your boss, or management does not think your views are important.
5) Disguise: You feel you can’t be yourself in your current job. You feel you need to be dishonest to continue in your job.
6) Micro-Manage: Your boss tries to control the conversations you have. “Don’t meet with John Doe unless I’m there. Your boss or management try to control your career. Lack of empowerment.
7) Guilt: Your boss has a way of making you feel guilty, and/or indebted to him/her. Your boss reminds you of past thoughtful gestures he/she has made – but these gestures are not free. There are strings attached.
8) Secrecy: Some secrets are good – but not this kind. You withhold what is going on in your work environment from family, and others you trust, because the feedback you get may be the truth. So you tend to avoid talking about the real work issues to your wife, husband, significant other, or other trusted friends.
9) No Trust: This is the red-est of red flags. You have felt for a long time, weeks, or longer, that you can’t trust your boss or management. Feedback you receive seems out of whack from what you know to be true. There is a large gap in how your boss sees you, and how you see yourself. Your boss makes a habit of collecting feedback about you without your knowledge
If you come to the conclusion that you are stuck in a toxic work environment, what are the best option? The best option is to go over your situation with a professional. This can be a career counselor, or career coach. It is best to talk with someone that can be objective, and look out for your best interest. If things are so bad you are considering leaving your job, talk with a Career Counselor, Transition Coach, or Career Coach BEFORE you start discussions with recruiters. Career professionals can help focus your search which will help both you, and your recruiter if you decide to seek new employment.Author: Brian Kail, MBA, CPC, CCC is a Career Coach. See AscendProCoach on the web for more information.
