Leading Edge – Volume 84 – Success Skills: Time and Task Planning

Leading Edge – Volume 83 – Success Skills: Emails and Meetings

Leading Edge – Volume 82 – Success Skills: Time Parasites

Leading Edge – Volume 81 – Success Skills: Time Management Systems

Signs Your Workplace is Toxic

You May be in a Toxic Workplace If:

Tim Schneider, Coach, Speaker, Author and Trainer from Aegis Learning

By Tim Schneider

Last week, our very own Polly Walker, wrote a great piece about horrible bosses and poor leadership.  Great read and I encourage you to take a look at it.

And now, a bit of a different perspective related to a toxic working environment and the signs that you may be in one:

Hiring and Promoting Practices

Based on experience, longevity or insider favoritism.  Over-values technical skills and under-values interpersonal skills.  Turnover, or transfers out are extremely high.  Those not transferring or leaving are looking.

Input Not Solicited 

Never is input, comments or ideas solicited from team members.  The boss has all the ideas and dictates outcomes.

Favoritism and Harassment are Permitted

Even when reported, rampant favoritism and harassment is ignored or tolerated.  Only the lowest level team members are actually held accountable for a code of conduct.

Learning is Ignored

Little or no value is given to learning and growth.  Opportunities for learning and growth are minimized for “work coverage” and no holistic view is given to team member learning.

Needs Are Not Met

The primary needs of self-esteem and relationship connectivity are not met or are not being fed.  The environment does not encourage social interactions and praise is only used begrudgingly.

Communication Vehicle and Frequency

Too much email and not enough face-to-face communication occurring.  Email is used to cover your you-know-what.  Widespread copies and blind copies.  Good communication is rare and rumors rule the data flow.

Opaque Transparency

Secrecy and those who know versus who does not know.  Nothing is shared in a forthright and open manner.  Creates huge amounts of anxiety among team members.

Budget is King

All hail the mighty budget!  Doesn’t matter what the right thing is or where opportunity is missed, its all about being under budget.

Right is Never Right

As obvious as the right thing is, it escapes the toxic environment.  Discipline for the bad is ignored and taking care of the good is an afterthought.  

Tim Schneider

Tim Schneider is the founder, CEO and lead facilitator for Aegis Learning.  

Video Library – Success Skills

Leading Edge – Volume 80 – Success Skills: Time Management Overview

Leading Edge – Volume 79 – CEO Mindset: Communication Approach

Leading Edge – Volume 78 – CEO Mindset: Subtle Direction

Leading Edge – Volume 77 – CEO Mindset: Critical Eye