Toxicity at Work is like Second-hand Smoke. Even if You do not Light it, You still Breathe it In.
By Hema Srinivas
Mike’s Note: Hema is our senior ELAvate trainer who always helps others to grow and nurture healthy relationships in their lives. She has a special passion for “lifting the lids of women” to achieve meaning and positive impact beyond their circle of influence. Let’s learn from Hema. I have added some additions to support her insights.
Unlike smoke, which spreads on its own, you can choose to create a RAINBOW - small, deliberate actions that brighten the atmosphere around you.
Flashback to my banking days! One of the branches I worked in was so toxic you could almost cut the air with a knife. Two departments shared the same premises but would not even say hello to each other. When I joined and started greeting everyone with a cheerful hello, the reaction was, “What does she have to be so cheerful about?”
This toxic culture was driven by the leader, who thrived on negativity. Pitting people against one another, capitalising on insecurities, and following a divide-and-rule approach ensured retention of the leader's control. The result - mistrust across levels, teams reluctant to work together, and extreme hesitation to collaborate across functions. Cliques formed, blame games ran high, and vindictive behaviour became part of the branch's DNA. No one grew professionally. Those who felt suffocated either quit or requested transfers. It took considerable effort to bring even a small sliver of positivity and collaboration into the atmosphere.
Years later, across companies and industries, I still see toxicity rising.
Many of today’s professionals value transparency, openness, mentoring, growth, and emotional intelligence. These qualities cannot flourish where toxicity dominates. You may not be able to change the entire culture alone, but you can lead by example. Create a RAINBOW - Don't add to the smoke storm!
🌈 R – Respect
Acknowledge strengths in your co-workers and value what they bring. Make people feel seen and respected. No Ego! One powerful way to do this is just to actively listen to what others are saying you’re your conversations. Active listening is like the air filter that can clear the air of toxicity.
🌈 A – Appreciate
Celebrate small wins, give credit generously, and recognise effort. Small words of appreciation can shift team energy. Ensure your recognition is sincere by connecting the appreciation to how it had a positive impact on you, your team or customers,
🌈 I – Include
Do not promote cliques or exclusions. Invite others in, seek cross-functional collaboration, and create a sense of belonging. Be curious and open to people who look, act and talk different than you. Learn to curb your judgemental attitude of others who are different. After all you may learn and grow from their unique ideas and perspectives.
🌈 N – Navigate politics wisely
Avoid gossip. Refuse to participate in gossip, change the subject or disengage from the conversation. Politics will always exist. Invest in understanding stakeholder expectations - steer conversations towards positive progress. Put the toxic fires and smoke of gossip, bad mouthing and blame out: Extinguish rather that escalate toxicity!
🌈 B – Build trust through good communication
Keep interactions open and honest. Ask questions, don’t assume, seek first to understand others then share your insight, expectations, Finally focus on win-win solutions rather than blame.
🌈 O – Offer respectful, constructive feedback
Focus on the issue, problem or behavior/skill, not the individual. Frame feedback in a way that helps people improve rather than feel attacked. Remember to ask questions first as usually there are circumstances that you have yet to uncover before giving feedback.
🌈 W – Watch your energy. Be an Energizer!
Your tone, moods, face and body language and reactions travel faster than you realise. Model collaboration and positivity so others can follow. Ask yourself are you an “energizer or an energy sucker” when interact with others.
The Smoke of Toxicity may hover around your work environment, but “rain it away” with these positive RAINBOW actions that inspire respect, trust and safety! Painting RAINBOW relationships is entirely in your hands. 🌈 Make a positive difference in your circle of influence!
Hema asks, “Which colour of your RAINBOW are you choosing to add to your workplace today? What toxic smoke do you need to filter out of your life and relationships?”
Thank you Hema for your valuable and colourful RAINBOW insights!
FREE OFFER! Your propensity to be toxic or a positive rainbow many times is related to your Emotional Intelligence (EI). Low EI can lead one to cultivating toxicity. ELAvate offers you to take a free on line TTTISI Emotional EQ Assessment that measures you across 5 EI factors. Contact our Training Director Manish Harsora to gain a link for this EQ Profile. After your complete the on-line assessment, he will send you your results. Contact him at manish.harsora@elavateglobal.com
Michael J Griffin
CEO & Founder of ELAvate
Maxwell Leadership Founding Member
Cross Cultural Communicator
griffin_michael@elavateglobal.com
+65-91194008 (WhatsApp)