TOXIC...

Be the lead actor of your story, stop calling people 'Toxic'!

If you read about the actual toxic situations, you will know that toxic practices, relationships, situations or environments are extremely harmful to a person's overall well-being. Be mindful before casually throwing that word here and there, it takes away from how awful real toxicity can be.

Multiple articles and posts on managers are doing the rounds everywhere and it worries me if many understand the difference between toxic and non-toxic(or maybe grey)

• Giving you feedback on role expectations and pushing you to meet your potential performance is not toxic
• Having differences in opinion on a responsibility/expectations doesn't make anybody toxic
• Not receiving timely recognition or not getting any appreciation is not toxic. I had shy bosses and their appreciation would reflect in appraisals :)
• Leaves not granted on a few occasions? This ain't toxic!
• Cornered you once in a meeting with their logic or asked the status of a critical task? not toxic

Humans make mistakes, and bad judgements and unintentionally hurt too, but not everybody is toxic. In a work environment where a boss pressures staff to meet a deadline is very different from a boss who consistently bullies employees and promotes a culture of fear to get results.

What you may do if you feel the work environment or manager is toxic :

• Seek to understand instead of resorting to labelling
• Clear and honest communication is the cornerstone of healthy professional relationships
• Seek support and guidance if you find it challenging to address the situation directly with your manager. Most organisations acknowledge power imbalances that exist between managers and employees and have policies and support systems to resolve concerns
• Focus on solutions, and think through positive changes required to salvage the situation
• Be the hero, take ownership of your growth. Identify opportunities to enhance your skills, seek learning experiences and observe (also adapt wherever possible) different managerial styles. You will be in a similar supervisory position in the future

Remember if you just keep talking about the problem, it will amplify. Save your energy and differentiate between what is toxic and what is just an unfavourable situation. Once you establish it is toxic and your company is not able to help, don't post toxic stuff - Leave for a better place.