How do I navigate a toxic work culture?

There were several variations of this question submitted. With stories that are unfortunately, not surprising.

Dear Career Curator,

My short answer, don't. 

I personally challenge myself to imagine my spouse, child, or anyone close to me in the exact same circumstance that I find myself in. I follow the advice I would give them. If the work culture is truly toxic, which can range from passive aggressive nonsense to actual verbal or physical abuse, I would base my advice off of my third person assessment of the situation using a loved one in place of myself. Sadly, most people don't prioritize their own well-being enough to follow the same advice that they would absolutely give to someone they love in the same position.

Here are a few things to consider:

Be prepared to make a change

Toxic work cultures don't shift overnight, so it's important to prepare for an inevitable change. You have identified that the culture does not align with your vision of a healthy work environment, now is the best time to begin preparing for your eventual exit. Get your resume in order, update your LinkedIn profile, reach out to your contacts or start creating your network. Look for other job opportunities, if only to have a better idea of what else is out there. Each step you take to prepare will strengthen your courage to make the best decision for you. If that ultimately means finding a new job, at least you will be ready. 

Be sure to assess your current tolerance level, which will determine your exit speed. If you are in the midst of severe burnout, for example, you may decide that there's no time to prepare and the best thing you can do at this very moment is to resign. That is completely okay. Just know that only you can make this decision. It does not matter what advice you receive from anyone else, you are ultimately your own best advocate and are the most equipped person to decide what is next for your career.

Advocate for yourself and overall cultural improvements

I always intend to leave every place better than when I found it, even it that means making life a bit easier for a singular person. I use my voice to advocate for change that I think is necessary for the betterment of the company. As a people leader, I take extra care to shield my team from as much negativity as possible. To be clear, shielding also includes acknowledging that while there may be negative things happening, we are still in control of how we show up and how we respond to things happening around us. Depending on your job level, there may be limitations to your overall influence (I have more thoughts on this, because I believe anyone can make an impact if they believe they can and take action accordingly) but if you're already witnessing a fire and you have cup of water, it certainly doesn't hurt to throw it on the fire. It's also helpful to organize your thoughts by keeping a list of your concerns and specific examples. There are many ways to leverage this list, but start with creating solutions that you would want to see. When you have the courage to share your perspective, you'll have organized thoughts and proposed solutions to share.

Know when you're talking to a brick wall

I don't have my head so far in the clouds to not understand that some situations feel completely hopeless. You've given it your all and nothing is changing. You've shared your point of view and it's blown off or even worse excused. Redirect your energy where it can be impactful, whether that's into your work or out of the door. Other alternatives include supporting someone else who is experiencing the toxicity along with you. Supporting is not commiserating. Sharing war stories or negative experiences is not helpful, unless you're gathering information that you know will be valuable for your protection (true workplace abuse is lawsuit worthy, I mean there were enslaved people uncovered on a farm in Georgia, USA in 2021). There's not a worse feeling than wallowing in negativity. Instead offer your support, which may include coping strategies, advice, or job referrals. You can also share the link to this article.

There is always something better

Don't allow anyone to tell you any different. There's no paycheck worth the decline of your mental health. You have to care for yourself before you are of any value to your family, friends, or colleagues. Ask for help, rally the people in your circle for support. Not everyone has the ability to just walk away from their job (it may be time for an FUnd if you don't already have one), but if you stay in a toxic work culture for too long, depending on the circumstances, you may not get to decide. You are deserving of work that is meaningful and adds value to your life beyond your paycheck (plus, you're probably not making as much as you think you are). Your opportunity is out there and who knows, your current circumstance may be just the push you need to go and find it.

With encouragement,

Curate Your Career

P.S.

I write my quips in parentheses, it's a bad habit, but there's truth in them.

FUnd- money set aside specifically for leaving a toxic work culture or other emergencies where you will voluntarily abandon your paycheck