3 Signs Of A Toxic Work Environment

Toxic work environments can ravage your confidence and create self-doubt! And yet, what can you do about it?

With all the changes, layoffs and downsizing that is happening in businesses large and small these days, it can quickly lead to a toxic workplace culture. Even businesses that once had a positive culture can head south quickly when so many changes are happening, which can have a negative impact on the mindsets and morale of your team.

Operating daily in a negative work environment for too long, can quickly take a massive toll on your confidence, leading to self-doubt, anxiety, even create debilitating imposter syndrome.

Here are the top 3 characteristics of today’s toxic work environment and what you can do as a leader to start making positive changes.

1.    Lack of Support and Recognition

 One of the most common characteristics of a toxic environment is the lack of support and recognition from managers and executive teams. So many employees are being asked to do twice as much with half the people power.

As humans, having positive feedback or reinforcement for the work we’re doing is important. Nature hates a vacuum so without it, employees tend to start making up negative things about their performance based on inaccurate assumptions and misinterpretations. Often leading to self-doubt, second guessing themselves and developing a case of imposter syndrome. A feeling that they are a fraud, despite their expertise and accolades.

These feelings then get intensified by compounded performance pressure they put on themselves leading to higher rates of anxiety, stress and a variety of physical illnesses when it goes on for too long.

What can leaders do differently?

• Start with having regular conversations with your employees to provide recognition and feedback is key
• Invest the time in getting to know some of their intrinsic drivers and core values to increase understanding, acceptance and tap into their natural motivations
• Encourage collaboration and teamwork can help employees feel like they are part of a team and valued for their contributions

2.    Poor Communication and Leadership

 When executives and managers are unclear about company expectations or fail to effectively communicate with their team, this quickly can lead to confusion and frustration.

This can also create increased stress, anxiety and self-doubt when employees feel like they aren’t meeting the expectations based on assumptions without an effective feedback loop. This leaves them wondering how to improve or which direction to take which can easily fester into spinning in circles with a lack of purpose or internal drive.

What can leaders do differently?

• Provide clear, consistent communications with employees
• Schedule regular 1-1 check-ins, team meetings and even companywide events to keep everyone on the same page as much as possible.
• Set clear goals, objectives based on a concise job description for every employee
• Make sure all managers and leaders are trained on how to effectively communicate with and lead their teams in a positive and supportive way.

3.    Hostile and Competitive Culture

When colleagues are pitted against each other or work in an environment where competition and aggressive practices are condoned and valued over collaboration and teamwork, it can create a very toxic workplace. These tactics can cause employees to feel isolated and unsupported, which can quickly manifest as anxiety, fear, and insecurity.

Additionally, this kind of competitive culture can easily contribute to imposter syndrome when employees feel like they have to continuously prove their value and worth, even as high achievers.

What can leaders do differently?

• Encourage a collaborative culture which fosters positive communications in a way that dignifies employees through greater understanding and acceptance
• Create a sense of community with cross-functional projects that help employees learn from each other to expand their skill sets
• Promote positive work-life balance so employees feel supported and valued for their contributions, as well as for who they are, both inside and outside of work

Given that we spend so much of our waking lives at work or engaged with work, doesn’t it make sense to create the healthiest and most productive environment possible?

Imagine if everyone on your team felt like they were seen, heard and valued for their ideas, and contributions…

How could that positively impact your team’s morale, productivity and even the bottom line?

It is possible.

By addressing these issues head on, employers can hand craft a positive work environment that promotes employee well-being, creates a loyal team and builds a collaborative environment of confident employees.

If you're interested in bringing more dignity, productivity, and collaboration to your team, then let's chat.

Michele Molitor, CPCC, CHt – Your Mind Detective, is a certified coach, consultant and hypnotherapist, and co-author of the best-selling book, “Breakthrough Healing.”

For over 20 years, she has worked with high achieving professionals assisting them in reducing their overwhelm and reclaim their self-confidence, calm and clarity to create a thriving life and career. Connect with her directly to help eliminate your anxiety and limiting self-beliefs caused by toxic work environments to reclaim your peace of mind.