Why Are So Many Workplaces Toxic

If I had a dollar for every toxic workplace story I ever heard, I wouldn't have to work another day in my life. But here is the thing, most of those stories start like this.." Mary is so toxic!" or "John is negative!" "Susie is difficult to work with!" And then there is the toxic organization. "This place is so toxic!" is the most common phrase I have heard.

Here is the bottom line: toxic environments are created by toxic people. I am sure you are thinking "dah!" because this we already know. So what do we do replace the toxic people? That might be an easy solution, but what if I told you there is no short supply of toxic people. So in effect you might well be replacing one toxic individual with yet another. So what is the long term solution?

Adages like "misery loves company" and "hurt people hurt people" are not just clichés; they are at the heart of finding a solution to toxic workplace culture. Some organizations even choose to ignore the toxic behaviour because the toxic employee is highly productive or the best salesperson; or worst yet a leader in the organization.
Today, leadership role stems far beyond just ensuring that people have the technical competencies to do the job well; effective leadership is also ensuring that the workplace culture is not toxic. Don't make it the norm.

Where do we start? We start first by ensuring that leaders are self-aware, professional and demonstrating high ethical standards of fairness and that they themselves are not being petty but emulating true leadership qualities.

Secondly, invest in true people development; the soft skills. Teaching your people how to manage conflict, emotional intelligence, how to communicate, stress management and providing an avenue for them to receive mental health support confidentially in and environment built on proven trust. Creating zero tolerance to gossip policies and investing in ethics training. Stop investing in these one off 'team-building' activities when employees will return to the same toxic environment they left.

Sounds like a lot? Here is the thing, what's the real cost of a toxic workplace culture? Yeah, I thought so too. Far more costly than any investment you will make in your people.

What if today we decided that a real KPI in our organization is the Health and Wellbeing of our people?

Toxic workplace culture is not a norm; ignoring it is!

Sherlet R Neal, MPM, CSM, JP
Managing Director
BISELaR