Workplace cultures can be either supportive or harmful. In a toxic work environment, maintaining mental health can be challenging. The hallmarks of toxic work environments are hostility and distrust, but workplaces that foster stress and fear can also produce toxicity over time.
Healthy workplace cultures allow everyone to thrive biologically, psychologically, socially and spiritually. Toxic cultures, in contrast, are rife with acrimonious, antagonistic, or suspicious feelings that impair employees’ ability to thrive, succeed and grow. Recognizing toxicity is crucial to safeguarding employees’ mental health.
Red flags of a psychologically toxic workplace
Lack of trust.
In a toxic workplace, individuals are constantly vying for position–often at the expense of others. Leaders may not trust others or may micromanage out of fear their staff won’t do things the “right” way.
When leaders fail to cultivate trust, team members tend to focus on what is best for themselves rather than thinking about what benefits the group.
Lack of honesty.
The lack of trust within a toxic workplace creates an environment where employees don’t feel safe to be authentic. As a result, they don’t speak openly and honestly.
Employees, for example, may parrot back what they believe leaders want to hear. At the same time, they may fail to share concerns or potential solutions which could help the organization become stronger.
Toxic workplaces can also punish honesty either overtly or covertly. For example, an employee who questions a boss’s new proposal may be accused of not being a “team player” and passed over for promotion.
Unrealistic expectations.
Every member of a workplace needs to contribute in healthy ways for the workplace to thrive. Conditions become toxic when the expectations are either undefined or unrealistic. When employees are expected to do whatever it takes to make a project succeed regardless of their personal needs, are punished for honest mistakes, or don’t know what the expectations are to be considered for advancement, their work environment is built on unrealistic expectations. These unrealistic expectations tend to create anxiety and fear.
Criticism.
In a healthy workplace culture, individuals trust they will be given honest feedback in gracious ways designed to help them grow and succeed. In toxic cultures, criticism is used to erode one’s sense of self-worth and efficacy.
Poor boundaries.
Healthy boundaries are necessary for a healthy workplace. Diffuse, rigid, or absent boundaries create toxic cultures. Employees don’t feel safe and protected in a work environment where leaders or co-workers are allowed to treat others in unhealthy ways without fear of repercussions.
Healthy responses to a psychologically toxic culture.
If you encounter elements of a toxic culture in your workplace, there are steps you can take to improve the situation! As a leader, routinely examining your culture and identifying elements which could be toxic positions you to exert a positive influence and drive change.
Encourage healthy boundaries by defining roles and limits.
Within toxic cultures, individuals can lose sight of what is theirs to manage. While it might seem counterintuitive at first, leaders and members of healthy teams understand that defining the boundaries of everyone’s roles and expectations empowers them to function at the top of their limits. When boundaries are easy to understand, team members are less likely to fear they are “stepping on toes” and are more likely to develop trust. Leaders need to avoid the tendency to assume team members understand the boundaries without direct, clear communication which encourages questions to help clarify expectations.
Prioritize wellness.
Numerous studies have shown happier employees are more likely to stay with their employer. They also miss fewer days of work, are less likely to require medical care, and are more productive!
By encouraging employees to engage in behaviors which support their health both within and beyond the workplace, to use their time off, and to prioritize their mental health, you create a culture where team members feel supported AND you encourage behaviors which will enhance the team’s productivity and efficiency.
To learn more about Pine Rest EAP services for your business or organization, visit pinerest.org/EAP.
