Let’s begin with a moment of self-reflection: As a colleague within your organisation, do you light up the room when you walk into it, or when you walk out of it?
Think about it… Are you one of those people who others are pleased to see because they know you will be a positive addition to the room and atmosphere or are people secretly thinking they can’t wait to see the back of you as you leave?!
In today’s workplaces, you are very likely to have encountered both, and sadly the ones who have the biggest impact on your mood and energy levels are those ‘toxic colleagues’ who we often refer to as ‘energy vampires’. They drain positivity from any space with their toxic behaviour, making everyone feel drained and uncomfortable.
These individuals feed on your willingness to listen, leaving you feeling exhausted with your energy levels depleted. They thrive on drama and often position themselves as martyrs.
Does this sound familiar? There you are riding high on accomplishment after a productive morning, when suddenly an ‘energy vampire’ appears, gradually deflating the mood and impacting everyone’s productivity and positivity.
It’s a common tale, but one with serious consequences:
- Team morale plummets
- Productivity nosedives
- Workplace culture becomes poisoned
- Personal energy levels suffer
How can we tackle this and learn to deal with this negativity in a way that protects both ourselves and other colleagues?
And, whilst it might feel like an uncomfortable thought…Could your own reactions and behaviour be unknowingly feeding this toxicity? Are you merely a victim, or potentially part of the problem?
Why the Problem Persists:
Toxic behaviour in the workplace often goes unchecked. Why?
- Avoiding conflict is human nature – it makes us feel unsafe, and as our primary subconscious motivator is to keep ourselves safe, we generally avoid it like the plague!
- We underestimate our own ability to influence – we think we are powerless to make a difference, so we stay silent.
- Workplace cultures often tolerate negativity – colleagues will roll their eyes, breathe a heavy sigh and accept that “it’s just how he/she is” and we learn to accept poor behaviour.
- It’s easier to complain to others than to act – for all the above reasons we simply never address it directly with the individual in question.
- We fail to recognise our own toxic traits – when complaining about the toxic behaviours of others instead of addressing the issue, we simply end up demonstrating the same toxic behaviours we so dislike.
Recognising Toxic Behaviour
To manage your response effectively, firstly look out for these key signs of toxic behaviour in colleagues and, of course, in yourself:
- Are they complaining about the organisation without taking any direct action?
- Are they blaming others for their mistakes?
- Is their negativity sabotaging performance?
- Do they talk negatively about others, but never address their concerns directly with the individual?
- Do they moan all the time about how they are a victim of circumstances, but they never talk about solutions or take action to improve their circumstances?
Once you’ve identified your ‘energy vampires’ you can start proactively managing your own behaviour to limit their influence.
The Solution: Top Tips to Tame Toxicity
Dealing with those who display toxic behaviours isn’t about a single quick fix. It’s about having a toolbox of strategies. Here’s 6 top tips to start with:
- Set Clear Boundaries:
- Limit your own exposure to toxic individuals e.g. if they hang out in the smoking shelter at a certain time, go elsewhere or pick a different time.
- Practice Self-Reflection:
- Recognise your own negative behaviours and ask yourself: “When do I contribute to negativity?” Are you guilty of agreeing with them to keep the peace or staying silent rather than asking questions?
- Prepare Your Responses:
- Plan how you will react in common negative scenarios and practice until you feel comfortable e.g. “When you gave X person that feedback, what was their response?
- Shut Down Negativity:
- Redirect conversations to constructive topics. “I’ve not experienced that, so I can’t really comment on that, but what I love about Y is…”
- Use ‘I’ Statements:
- Express your feelings without accusation e.g. “I find it frustrating when we’re chatting and it’s constantly negative.”
- Encourage Action:
- Challenge those who complain to find solutions e.g. “ So what practical steps can you take to change this?”
The benefits of addressing toxicity
- Create a more positive work environment
- Improve team morale and productivity
- Reduce your own stress levels
- Develop better relationships with colleagues
- Enhance your problem-solving skills
- Become a positive influence in your workplace
- Reduce the volume and impact of that negative voice on yourself and others.
Conclusion: Transforming Your Workplace
The journey from toxicity to positivity is a series of small, deliberate steps. The cost of inaction is immense, but the rewards of addressing toxicity are transformative. Imagine a workplace where challenges are met with solutions, not complaints, and where your energy soars instead of plummets.
The challenge is clear, and the tools are in your hands. Don’t let toxic colleagues poison your work life or allow yourself to be an unwitting accomplice to negativity. In the grand narrative of your career, will you be remembered as the one who succumbed to toxicity, or the one who transformed it?
The choice is yours. Take the first step towards a more positive, productive workplace today.
