|
Surviving the Toxic Work Environment
THE TOXIC BOSS
Do you work in a "toxic" work environment? Let's define it first and judge for you. A toxic work environment is one that is riddled with all the fear, discomforts, aggravations, hostility, disrespect and intimidation found in a horror movie. It is the kind of environment that has you feel every health ailment real or imagined at the very thought
of going to work in order to give you a valid reason for calling in sick. It is the kind of work environment that many employees find themselves subjected to on a daily basis but have too much time invested in the organization to leave it. Lets face it, if you are reading this article with white knuckled anticipation for survival secrets, you must be either a glutton for punishment
or mad as heck at the mere thought of "them" winning. Then again, maybe you are one of the few risk takers out there who actually want to change the toxic levels of the organization while at the same time survive long enough to retire without all those health ailments associated with stress!
There is nothing worse than working in an environment like the one I have described above. One would think that most people would take their briefcases and run. Yet, time and time again I receive calls from a variety of people, both men and women alike who want so badly to influence the change necessary to professionalize their work environments
but find themselves terrified by toxic bully bosses who render them powerless and frustrated.
Identifying the true source of the toxic problem is essentially the easiest part of the survival process. Part one of "Surviving the Toxic Work Environment will identify and offer suggestions for managing the "toxic boss" followed by the "toxic co-worker" in next months second part series. Identifying the reasons why these toxic individuals were
allowed to develop the power they have to turn an organization upside down in the first place is amazing. The topic of "toxic power" will conclude this three part series on hostile work environment issues.
THE TOXIC BOSS
Almost everyone can identify this individual. The toxic boss is one who is so seemingly impressed with his or her own capabilities, skills, job knowledge and work ethic that no one can equally match those job skills. In fact, they may even regularly inform you of your weakness, most times in a public forum so that their skills of wit and humor
can be advertised as well. Toxic bosses enjoy the subservience of others. If you are not the subservient type you may find yourself bumping heads with the toxic boss. The toxic boss likes to be "in charge" or at least likes the appearance of being "in charge". Toxic bosses will often ridicule and criticize peers and employees alike.
They are often loud, abusive, show little compassion or understanding for human frailties of any kind, condescending, inflexible and unyielding, particularly if proven wrong. If your work is flawless, the toxic boss will most likely take all the credit for it without even throwing you a bone to acknowledge your hard work. If your work product is flawed,
chances are everyone in the office will know before you do! Does anyone you know or work for fit some or most of these descriptions? If your answer is yes, you have a TOXIC BOSS and my heart goes out to you! If the individual you work for has three or less of these descriptive qualities then look out because you will soon be working for a toxic boss.
How does anyone manage to breathe the same air as this type of individual? My answer, very carefully. This type of individual can be ruthless if he or she detects that you are about to sabotage their power in any way. Absent the tranquilizer gun you would probably love to own you will need to put the first of several secret weapons found
in this series into immediate practice.
Secret Weapon Number 1: CONFRONT ONLY IN PRIVATE - ACT PROFESSIONALLY AND ASSERTIVELY IN MIXED COMPANY
Simple yet powerful strategy. Here's why. Toxic bosses may enjoy the company of subservient employees to fluff their feathers around and towards however, they respect being assertively confronted in a professional manner. They may show you disrespect in front of other employees but, in private, the toxic boss often times shows surprise when
confronted on equal ground. By equal ground I mean using strong assertive language and mannerisms that may even emulate his or her actions. This way of private confrontation allows room for the toxic boss to save face, feel less threatened and less humiliation-attributes that you were not spared by him or her. People tend to not use this tactic in fear of being
misquoted or misjudged by the toxic boss as being insubordinate. Some view the privacy of the confrontation as a sell-out and would prefer to have peers and co-workers witness your ability to stand up to the toxic boss. My question to these individuals is this, what are you seeking by this tactic? A verbal war of wills? If you don't know by now, the boss, toxic or otherwise
always WINS.
Speaking assertively and professionally in mixed company allows other bosses, peers and co-workers who may one day be your potential witnesses against the toxic boss's behavior, the ability to testify to your day to day professionalism. Toxic bosses enjoy fabricating the truth. To do otherwise, you may find yourself facing charges of insubordination
after you inappropriately verbally explode in the office as the smiling toxic boss looks on. The toxic boss would love nothing more than to have to counsel, transfer or fire you. You are the squeaky wheel. You are not swimming with the rest of the ducks. You are in his or her way and you will remain a target, unless one of you separates company. Just
so you know, it will not be the toxic boss that ends up moving or transferring it will be YOU. So, you must find a spot on equal ground. Be assertive not confrontational. And, always be professional. Model correct behavior. Don't fall into the swamp and try to arm wrestle a snake!
|