How To Thrive In A Toxic Workplace

“Leadership is a privilege. When you’re in a leadership role, your influence may affect the trajectories of people’s entire careers (and often their lives!).” - LEADERSHIP FIRST

Not sure you can actually thrive in a toxic environment. If you’ve done so successfully, please let me know your secret. So, I guess a better title for this would be: How To Survive A Toxic Workplace.

Let’s turn to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

THE DEFINITION OF TOXIC

1: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation.

2: exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicosis.

3: extremely harsh, malicious, or harmful.

4: relating to or being an asset that has lost so much value that it cannot be sold on the market.

TOXICITY IS A PRISON

Look at how a toxic environment can degrade and devalue you over time (emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically):

Serious debilitation.

Harsh.

An asset that has lost so much value that it cannot be sold on the market.

NO LEADER IS PERFECT

No boss is perfect. No employee is perfect.

People can change.

But if you find yourself stuck in a toxic workplace whose leadership is guarded by a calculated narcissist that manipulates, unfortunately, you only have just a few options.

3 WAYS TO SURVIVE A TOXIC WORKPLACE

1. Go to work, do your job, and go home.

2. Humbly speak up through the proper channels and hope for the best.

3. Resign (notice I didn’t say “survive IN a“ - I said “survive”).

Each of those three options has its pros and cons. Since toxicity is a prison, you must be brave enough to face your fears head on...be ready to escape...and become the best version of yourself. Staying in a toxic environment will change you for the worse, everyone around you will see it, and you’ll be the last to realize it.

I’ll leave you with this. No toxic workplace frustration is worth lugging home with you or even losing sleep over. Time for a change? I’m rooting for you.

I hope this has encouraged you. If you would like to talk, I would be honored to help build confidence in you, your team, and your brand. Together, we can grow the greatest message and the greatest songs Beyond the (615) and into your local community.

Todd is the Christian Format Editor at AllAccess.com as well as the Owner of a Consulting & Coaching service at beyond615.com. He helps build confidence where people feel unsure.