5 Ways to Heal from a Toxic Workplace Environment
Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe
A toxic relationship can be defined in many ways: in workplace environments, we define it as an unsupportive relationship cultivating poor communication and teamwork - it is often felt from the top down.
Many professionals may argue that a toxic environment is made up of additional characteristics. Unhealthy workplace environments are not always apparent; they are made up of micro scenarios, unsupportive colleagues, and leadership that do not value employees' opinions or see the value in growth. When working in this environment, many professionals feel conflicted, confused and tend to lose themselves in the transition.
Here are five ways to help professionals heal from a toxic workplace environment:
Relax
Understand that you just left an environment that was stressful and unkind. Working in these types of conditions creates situations for professionals that are felt emotionally and physically.
To begin relaxing, you can use apps like Headspace or the Apple Breathe app for meditation or mental health clarity to help you create a healthy routine that promotes a healthy, positive outlook on an environment. I use meditation as a tool to create an environment I can thrive in. Before I start, I use a sage spray to help cleanse my environment and open my mind and welcome these thoughts. When I do this, I can focus, ground myself, set the tone for good intentions and positivity for my day.
Give yourself some grace
Being kind to yourself and allowing grace is essential when you leave any toxic relationship; this is where a lot of the healing begins.
Do you remember the patience and restraint you had when your employer stressed you out or stretched you thin? Channel that same patience, if not more, to begin the process. Don't speak negatively of yourself or downplay your accomplishments. AMPLIFY the positivity and BOAST on those accomplishments. Make a list of all the things you accomplished (big or small) and how you impacted the company, save this in a readily accessible document, edit as needed, and create a resume.
Using a skills tracker is a great way to get the information organized and prep for the resume process.
Take the time to learn new skills and/or strengthen old ones
It wouldn't be fair to blame a toxic relationship solely on the employer. There is a part that everyone plays in the continuation and evolution of unhealthy behavior. While this situation may have caused many complications, you undoubtedly picked up VALUABLE skills and identified where you could strengthen your skills.
Think about your skills that need additional attention. It could be in communication (written or verbal), find online courses, templates, or books that will strengthen your ability to communicate the way you were feeling, advocate for yourself, and negotiate during your next interview.
Do the things you enjoy most
While it is unrealistic to believe that everyone can take a break from employment after leaving a toxic environment, I recommend taking a micro-break (5-10 days) from the job search and start doing things that you love.
In doing something that you love, you will begin to build your confidence, transform into a person who thrives, have clarity, and tackle the job search without doubts.
Many people find healing from self-care, hobbies, physical activity, or social engagement – not everyone is the same; find what works for you.
Build a solid reference network for future employment
Reaching out to the people who know you best while your work ethic is still fresh in their mind is the easiest way to get an accurate recommendation and endorsement to support your career.
Remember to be strategic when gathering endorsements in recommendations from former colleagues, be sure to solicit a mixture of peers and leadership-level professionals who can speak to your value add and have impressive resumes themselves.
You can use these endorsements and recommendation letters during interviews, LinkedIn spotlights, or on your resume.
Bonus: Talk with a career expert to discuss ways to increase your professional marketability and brand, including creating a solid resume.
Leaving toxic relationships isn't easy, no matter if it's your employer, partner, friend, or unhealthy addiction to desserts (me).
The most important thing to remember is that it's not what happened that defines you; it's how you react to the situation that determines your resilience and character.
Choose to grow and elevate from all workplace conditions, especially those that are less favorable to our careers.
About the Author
Carmen Drummond is an Army Veteran, the owner of Career Nerd, and a D&I Career Strategist who works with professionals and decision-makers to create custom streamlined career strategies to support diversity efforts when looking for work or creating workplace cultures. She is committed to providing innovative solutions that will generate results, increase salaries, and grow business.