Career Change

10 Ways to Handle Toxic Work Environment

On December 23, 2023 by

Sometimes, pointing out problems is not difficult but constructing ways to solve them is. Following up on the post titled  10 Signs of a Toxic Work Environment, it is time to discover the ways to avoid from negative influences of such toxic workplaces. I will try to show some ways I have implemented and found effective to handle toxic work environments.

Before all that, I want to tell you that toxicity in the workplace does not have to be all visible and painful to the same degree for everyone. Some signs are more destructive than others. Also, everybody handles each problem differently in terms of tolerance levels. Therefore, it is up to you to choose which solution given below makes your life easier. While reading them, you may not find them relatable or effective for your situation. That may be because your situation is more serious than what is described in the post. If it is the case, please use the below steps firstly to lighten up the effects of toxicity at work and then focus on a more radical solution.

Here are the ways to make your life easier.

1. Find a hobby to destress

Without a doubt, most of us experience high stress and negativity at work. As it is not possible to fix it at its root sometimes, you should try to have your own time to relieve the stress. Focusing on your hobbies and interests outside of your work is a solution to forget about what happens at work. This will not only ease your mind and make you motivated for life in general, but it will also help you get up in the morning and go there. If you don’t have anything to be busy with execpt of work, build one at this instant. It will have a significantly positive impact in your life.

2.Get distant from negative people and gossipers

There is always someone who would spread negativity at work, be it your manager or colleagues. Working and completing an assignment with them is always hustling as if the job itself is not enough. They complain about the time and resources being insufficient to complete a task or the company policy that was brought into force. They will criticize and find a flaw in everything and everyone so much that complicating even a simple task with them becomes hardship you have to endure.

On top of that, gossipers are also present trying to spread false information around, breaking the trust and harmony in the workplace. They first start by bringing you “information” and trying to look friendly. Then, they will do the same to other people taking “information” about you to others.

These two types of people are must-stay-aways. Even if you cannot stay away from them completely, try to avoid what they are saying. Also, try to give them the least information possible to prevent misunderstandings that may be developed upon you.  Try to find positive people to spend time with even if they are not in your department. Socializing with other units can be beneficial for work too.

3. Forget everything about work once you clock-out

I know that it is difficult to leave work at work, especially jobs such as sales and marketing or if you are working from home. Your phone might be ringing even at night and emails may be floading all day expecting your replies. I must say that this is not human and extremely toxic. You need to fix it with radical solutions. (see point-10)

But for a more fixable situation, I can suggest you stop thinking about your work in your private time. Or using your own time with work-related activities because you cannot get it out of your mind. Leave everything work related at your work desk. If you have a hard time doing that, try to make lists of things to be done the next day. This way you can clear your head and have a more clear vision for the coming workday. Your job may require a lot of planning and organization that keeps your mind occupied but still, you need a clear and relaxed mind to manage all that. If people at work expect more, try to make it clear to them that your free time is your own. Ensure them that you know the urgency and necessity so you will prioritize their request but will not let your time and space be violated.

4. Don’t take anything personal

Especially if you are sensitive or an empath, you may take the behaviors and attitudes of people at work directed to yourself. However, it is mostly not the case. People act the way they do as a reflection of their perception of the world. In other words, a slacker will think everyone is a slacker and a liar thinks everybody does it all the time. When you add office politics to this picture, it does not look that bright, right? For this very reason, you need to stop thinking people’s behavior towards you or their attitude toward your work does not truly explain who you are. Instead, it reflects their perception of this entire picture and how they place themselves in it. If a colleague does not cooperate with you, they may be “punishing the company” for not giving a pay raise they requested by slowing the work in their power. Some people do that as a revenge. If your boss does not behave respectfully to you, it may be because they may be feeling threatened by your abilities. They may be trying to make you feel little so that you don’t recognize and work for your potential. These are all speculations but still they can be true %100 in real life. My point is that you should not be taking the behaviors of work colleagues as directed toward your true self. You need to see from their perspective and remove yourself from the equation as it is nothing about you. Just do your work, stay away from drama and acknowledge your true potential.

5. Take solo breaks as frequently as you can

As you can realize I put “solo” before the break because even if you have someone at work who you can trust and share your feelings with, sometimes there is a need to stay by yourself to self-reflect and tidy your mind. Eating alone, drinking coffee alone, and having small walks alone (if you can) can make a big impact in terms of boosting your morale especially if you can remove your mind from the problematic situations at work and think about more positive things happening in your life. With your colleagues, you will mostly end up talking about problems at work and your breaks won’t serve their mission as to relax your mind. Get something to be busy with or find an occupation to keep your mind away from work while on your breaks. Read your favorite magazine, watch a portion of your favorite show (comedy if possible), etc. Of course, you will have breaks with your colleagues as well but try to keep some time to yourself only. This will ease your mind.

6. Try to control your perceptions of people and their actions

Humans are inadequate, humans have flaws and humans can have the most negative aspects even if we cannot make meaning out of it. Therefore, it is important to keep your expectations at reasonable levels and try to be more realistic in terms of cooperation. You may have big dreams, and you may have plans that can contribute to your company, but keeping them on a realistic scale is vital to make them true. Instead of looking at the situation idealistically, try to remain in realistic lanes and develop plans to realize your dreams in this way. Don’t expect from people beyond their capacity. Not everybody is enthusiastic as you, not everybody is determined about their goals as you, and not everybody wants to make a difference as you do. Most people just wanna pass the time and do some work as minimum as needed. So, get your realistic costume on when dealing with people at work.

7. Nothing and no one can define who you are

Keep in mind that the work, the job, and the people’s treatment of you do not define who you truly are. You may not have the chance to showcase your potential and abilities at your current job but you can do that in another department or in another company. If your work and contribution are not valued and belittled, that is not entirely about you. Most of the time, people use work platforms to cover their insecurities by being cruel to people around them. This is not about you but them. Keep up the good work and don’t give up on your efforts because some colleague or your boss did not appreciate it. Appreciate yourself and remind yourself who you are as it is only natural that we all may forget it sometimes.

8. Start saying no

If you have been reading my work for some time, you may have realized how much I love this solution J This seems to be the ultimate solution to almost all of our problems. Saying no.. saying yes to every assignment, work “favors” and requests will make you weak, not hardworking. If you are doing this just because you believe that you are a hard-working person, or you wanna show how greatly you work is, stop doing that. It will not have the effect you presume. It will make you look like a sucker (excuse my french) rather than a hardworking and capable employee.

If you are doing that because you have to, there are other ways to avoid getting on more responsibilities. 

If a task is not within your job description, use your right to say no to doing it. It may not be that simple to say a direct no to your boss, so you can use indirect ways to reject it. You can mention previously assigned tasks you are working on (I am sure you have plenty of them already assigned to you) as to the due time of submitting them or the workload needed to be completed to be intense.  If this does not work and you keep getting more and more assignments, direct face-to-face talk may be the last resort. While doing that try to picture the situation from a more company-oriented perspective. Do not end up blaming your boss for over working you. Just tell them if you keep on getting these extra assignments, you are afraid that you will make vital mistakes unintentionally. As the quality of work done will get low since you cannot put enough time and effort on them. So, try to talk from a perspective where the company and your boss are favored, not your poor little soul. I am sorry to say this but not everyone is humane enough to see your suffering.

9. Work for the money

When you feel stuck, try not to internalize and take the pain further. Just work for the money, not for the things you wished you have gotten out of your job or the company such as work satisfaction, a sense of belonging, etc. Of course, this is not a solution for the long run but only for the time being. Until the situation is changed by you or at the work, just focus on what you can get out of it to build what you truly aspire to.   

10. Try to find a way out (of the company:) )

If you have tried all of the above and see no progress, if your work and workplace do not provide you peace, or room for improvement, if you are dragging your heels to work, just work on ways to quit and find a place you can have these. Nothing is permanent, nothing is as scary as it seems, and most significantly nothing is indispensable in life other than your physical and mental health. You deserve better.

However, deserving better does not mean someone will bring everything you deserve to your feet. You need to go and get them. If this requires quitting your job, then you have to do that.

I know that you can with a vision and propoer plan.

Let me know if you have any methods to add to this list or an experience you have encountered as an example.

Thank you for reading Millens! Wishing you the best <3