3 top tips for thriving in a toxic work environment
What do you do when your work environment becomes unmanageable and you recognise that you are suffering from other’s toxicity?
Finding an independent, impartial coach is - of course - my first obvious answer. Talking to someone outside of the organisation, and outside of your personal life, who is skilled in helping you tease apart the turmoil will help you look at the situation in different ways and find solutions to move forwards.
There are also tools that can help you get a grip on the situation, and navigate the issues and the personalities involved. Here are three starting points to help you deal with the toxic work environment that will give you a better standing to handle the stress.
Gain distance, get perspective
I often see with clients who are in this position, that their entire world is focussed on it - they are inside it wholly, absorbed by it, consumed by it. They take it home at night and wake in the early hours stewing over it.
Intentionally make a space between you and it - get as far away as you are able to and completely change your surroundings, change the environment, change the people - a weekend away if possible, or a walk in a different place, perhaps. A holiday ideally! With distance you can then start to ask questions and you will find that your responses change. Who are you in this different space? How does the situation feel now, that you are not inside of it? What would you do differently? How would you approach it?
Gaining perspective on a situation is easier when not immersed within it. You can extract yourself from it physically, as described above and you can also do this cognitively. Your mind is an astoundingly powerful tool when understood and harnessed! Using tools such as in NLP, Timeline, Positive Psychology, Neuroscience and somatics, say, can help shift your approach to situations involving difficult conversations, hurdles and challenging personalities at work.
Find balance
What activities do you do outside of work? Be honest. Do you have a flourishing social life, enjoyable exercise, activity that extends your creativity and inspiration, or does your work fill over into your personal space, only to take it to bed with you in head spinning anxiety?
So many of us allow this imbalance in our lives and it subtly but powerfully affects our judgement and ability to approach a situation logically. Ask yourself - in your life, what is important? What is important to me? Sit on that one for a while - perhaps journal on it, walk with it, allow it to sink into your unconscious and bring it back a week later. Jot down the 5 most important things in your life every day over a week or three and see what emerges - it might not be what you had first assumed.
Talk
Many of us are verbal processes and find answers emerge in conversation. Whether you are on not, having a conversational space to explore issues safely and creatively, is going to help.
Furthermore, a well framed, intentional conversation with considered, responsive questions with a skilled coach will provide an empowering and impactful supportive catalyst for finding positive answers.
If you want to find solutions, gain perspective and work through the complex situations, environments and cultures of work then impartial and skilled support and intentional conversations are a most effective solution that we often overlook.
Our bosses want us to be effective, productive, focussed and streamlined - and they, too, will support you in finding the best way to be so and show up as your best professional self. Ask them for the support of a coach, it is in their interest to invest in you.
I hope these tips are helpful and a way in to understanding your position right now. When you’d like to explore how and where you would like to be next then get in touch for a chat - I’m here to support you.
#businesssupport
#professionaldevelopment
#toxicworkplace
