High turnover rates, low staff morale, widespread gossip – these are symptoms of a toxic workplace culture. As an employer, how aware are you of the culture in the office?
The goal of every employer is to boost productivity among employees. Even if you prefer a more traditional hard-line approach to management, there is a fine line between a driven work environment and one that is overly competitive to the point of toxicity.
Here, we examine some common tactics and mind-sets that may contribute towards the creation of a toxic workplace culture, and some tips on how to resolve team issues in a healthy way.
1. Give credit where credit is due
Do your employees take credit for their colleagues’ work? Do they belittle each other’s efforts to make themselves look good? It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, but it doesn’t have to be that way within the company.
Ensure that everyone who contributes to a project is getting the credit that he or she deserves by observing your staff regularly and asking for updates on their progress.
2. Encourage team sharing
Though there can only be one top performer at a time, it doesn’t mean everyone else is incompetent. It’s normal to incite some friendly competition among your employees, but how you deal with the results of the competition matters.
Do you subject the “losers” to humiliation or ridicule? Doing this could lead to resentment and the loss of morale. You want your employees to be driven, not discouraged.
Consider arranging for top performers to mentor the ones who are having trouble hitting their targets. This will naturally foster a positive working environment, and results in a more cohesive team.
3. Avoid playing favourites - a negative workplace culture
A team leader that plays favourites and scapegoats is a huge contributing factor to a toxic workplace culture.
Not only does this behaviour alienate the designated scapegoats, it can induce workplace bullying and the formation of cliques, leading to the eventual breakdown of the team.
4. Lead by example
Do you heavily penalise or criticise your staff for making mistakes while excusing your own blunders? Do you set rules that you don’t follow?
A good boss admits to mistakes and lives by his/her own code of conduct, instead of merely enforcing it on others.
5. Provide adequate outlets for mutual feedback
It’s important to provide employees with an avenue to communicate with the management. Assure them that negative feedback will be considered and addressed, and offer incentives for sharing ideas that can improve the workplace culture.
People like to know that they are doing well in their roles, especially if they are exceptional at it and can enjoy a level of job satisfaction.
6. Encourage an open office culture
If your employees are hesitant to approach you for help, there’s a good chance that it is fear holding them back, not awe. While boundaries are important in maintaining your role as a leader, it also pays to encourage your employees to approach you with their concerns or if they need assistance.
You might find that they have good ideas to share, but were afraid of being criticised and maybe even blacklisted.
All in all, fostering a harmonious working environment is not as straightforward as simply following these tips closely. If you’re guilty of any of the above-mentioned scenarios, don’t worry – it’s not too late to resolve matters.
By keeping the lines of communication open and fostering a collaborative work culture, you can turn a toxic workplace culture into a dynamic environment where employees are happy and motivated.
