Well, because toxicity does not necessarily manifest itself through aggression, cliques, mistrust and enmity
It might as well take some time before fully realising that the workplace is rife with toxicity and has little scope for empathy, learning, communication and growth. In such a workplace setting, the protocols and policies are designed by keeping in mind the sole profit of the company and not employees’ benefits.
Since workplace culture plays a predominant role in shaping how employees work, interact and make decisions, it simultaneously lends a negative impact on mental health, sense of wellbeing and productivity. Therefore, scan your work environment for these four signs.
A Pervasive Fear of Failure Looms Large
Little could be learned and achieved if employees are perpetually doomed to a state of paranoia about making mistakes and challenging the established status quo. In organisations where employees are constantly paralyzed by an environment that punishes failures, psychological safety begins to wane away. Unless employees feel secure about taking risky decisions and committing errors, the environment cannot sustain growth.
Continuous Dysfunction and Mindboggling Chaos
When staff is absolutely flabbergasted about their roles and responsibilities and everybody simply starts pitching in daily, it distorts the systematic and professional way of getting work done. Such vaguely defined job responsibilities culminate in power struggles, mistrust and ambiguous communication. The dysfunctional mechanism almost always meddles with team collaboration, productivity and completion of projects. In the process, interpersonal relationships are damaged as well.
The Environment Supports Cliques and Exclusion
Toxicity might remind you of high-school drama that exuded hostility, gossip and backstabbing. If you have been getting a lot of weird vibes from a certain group of employees giggling at inside jokes and relentless gossip, the chances of feeling alienated and insecure are high. Such an atmosphere could deflate self-esteem and confidence to the point where you no longer feel motivated or enthusiastic about going to work.
You Find Co-workers Unmotivated and Sloppy
Your co-workers are possibly burnt out, nonchalant and careless about the work they are committed to and without the slightest bit of passion and genuine interest towards it. Toleration of such sloppiness and leniency is eventually detrimental to career growth. Thrive of new ideas, creativity and challenges are minimal to zero.
While leaving such toxicity behind to advance in career is indispensable, temporarily coping with unhealthy workplace scenarios is equally important to leverage your time here and capitalise your learnings in the future.
