Ask Chloé: Changing a Toxic Workplace
Welcome to the Ask Chloé column on Security Boulevard! Each week, Chloé provides answers to readers’ questions to help guide them as they navigate the technology industry. This week, Chloé helps a manager navigate a toxic workplace with tips on how to curb the behavior and encourage change.
Dear Chloé,
I’m getting so tired of negative office gossip that turns into backstabbing, and I don’t know what to do about it. Do you have any advice on how to reduce this problem? I feel like it’s causing me to be more anxious versus focusing on work. I’m also worried about it impacting my team as a manager.
-Gossip Hater
Dear Gossip Hater,
I can understand how negative office gossip can leave one anxious and feeling unwelcome in the workplace. You’d think gossiping and backstabbing behavior would stop after middle school and high school, but it’s often just as bad as an adult—sometimes it can even be worse. Reducing this behavior is tricky, but it’s doable.
If there are certain colleagues that are notorious for gossiping, it may be a good idea to confront them and give them a warning. The last thing you want is someone creating a toxic workplace culture; that can impact engagement and retention if people leave the company because of it.
If there’s already a company policy that covers gossip and/or other toxic behavior, take action and remind staff that such behavior is never acceptable and that it won’t be tolerated. If there’s not such a policy, then work with your company leadership and HR to create one immediately and make sure actions are taken to enforce the policy.
Now, it’s important to note that if the leadership team exhibits any of this kind of toxic behavior that it does impact the company culture, since they are the ones who are supposed to set the example for the rest of the employees to follow. Toxic leaders can bring down a team, department, company and poison a workplace environment incredibly fast. It’s important to have leaders who constantly want to improve themselves and are open to feedback. Unless such leaders are willing to change and show that they’ve changed, it may be a good idea to start thinking about hiring someone else to take over their roles.
Unfortunately, there may come a point where you just need to leave. If leadership is unwilling to change or improve, it may be a sign that you should start looking at other companies to join. No one likes to work in toxic work environments; instead, look for a workplace culture that is transparent, discourages this kind of toxic behavior and allows a sense of belonging.
Lastly, it’s probably a good idea to not share your personal life in the office. I know this is hard for many of us; it can be tricky because we build friendships in the office. But if there are toxic people, know that they can and will use the personal information you share to their advantage.
Learn more about the award-winning tech changemaker, Chloé Messdaghi, at https://www.chloemessdaghi.com.
Have a question? Want advice? Submit your anonymous question to Chloé: [email protected].
