The primary cause of toxic work environments is poor leadership. About one-third of employees working in a toxic environment are afraid to say anything about it because they fear they’ll be ostracized or fired. Unhappy workers are less productive, make more mistakes, and cost companies more money. Whether it’s remedying mistakes or hiring and training new employees due to high turnover, businesses end up losing out in every sense. However, with open communication and genuine mindfulness, businesses can easily turn things around for the wellbeing of their employees and their bottom-line.
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What Is a Toxic Work Environment?
Before you know how to fix a toxic work environment, first look for the warning signs:
- Are there social cliques within the company that take part in bullying behavior, exclusion, or favoritism?
- Do poor communication and unrealistic workloads create stress, illness, and fatigue among employees?
- Is there a sense that the employees are closed off, anxious, or fearful or do they often call in sick or come in late?
- Are working conditions unsafe or are employees being asked to do immoral or dangerous tasks?
- Are there harmful discriminatory policies or wage gaps creating division?
- Does management ignore their team’s concerns?
There may be more destructive, underlying issues but these are the most obvious signs of a toxic workplace environment. Once identified, it’s important to act. Unrest in a work environment can escalate quickly.
After identifying the factors that are contributing to a toxic work environment, you can fix it by building the trust back up between leaders and employees. To do this, it’s important for management or executives to set the example themselves. Understanding how to fix a toxic work environment is crucial to affect true change within your organization.
Here are ten methods for fixing a toxic work environment and building a more positive work environment:
Engage with Employees in Positive Ways
Have a positive presence. Don’t sit locked up in your office all the time. Let your employees know that you don’t place yourself on a pedestal by engaging with them regularly throughout the day.
Create a Safe Space for Healthy Discussions
Emotional intelligence is key to any great relationship. Create an excellent atmosphere for communication. Keep the door open for employees to express concerns or ask questions without fear of ridicule or losing their jobs.
Lead by Example
Be willing to teach employees procedures and policies by living them. Leaders that lead by example create a more favorable workplace vibe.
Express Gratitude for Your Staff Members
Show your staff appreciation and recognition where it’s due. Let them know that they’re valuable and without them, the company would fail. Be sincere and point out specific things that they succeed at.
Tap into the Unique Strengths of Each Team Member
Consider each person’s skill set by assigning projects or teams that will give them a chance to shine and use their strengths to the best of their ability.
Show Respect for Employees’ Needs
Respect each person’s boundaries and needs whether it be time off for a religious holiday or letting them communicate an HR issue.
Provide Constructive Forms of Criticism
Coach in a constructive and supportive manner. Ask powerful questions that help them formulate new ways of doing things if something isn’t working, and support their individual job growth and potential.
Establish & Maintain a Standard of Fairness
Be fair to all employees. Treat all of your employees with respect and equality. Honor their diversity and individualism.
Facilitate Opportunities for Inclusive Team Bonding
Create camaraderie between employees and leaders through socialization and sharing. For example, host a weekly or monthly event like Bagel Fridays where the company supplies everyone with breakfast and coffee to encourage a comfortable and communicative workplace setting.
Allow Team Members to Own Their Roles & Performance
Give your employees the freedom and flexibility to make decisions that best suit their projects or work goals. Within reason, this autonomy will help build trust and make employees feel more confident and valued.
The causes of toxicity and hostility in the workplace are generally linked to negative attitudes among employees regarding management procedures. Workplace environments can transform when employees feel safe, respected, and heard. Although these suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg, they can help and inspire you to be the change your fellow teammates need in order to fix a toxic work environment.
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