Questions to Ask Yourself in a Toxic Workplace
A program management job should lead to a lot of job satisfaction. But your dream job can quickly turn sour if your employer’s culture becomes toxic. The stress you feel at work can quickly invade your personal life, affecting your health and personal relationships. At work, you could become demotivated, and your professional development could be hampered. The question is, should you start searching for a new program management job?
Is Your Workplace Toxic?
There are some clues that tell you it could be time to move on because the culture at work is toxic. These include:
· Poor communication
If team messages aren’t shared effectively, or employees rely on conversations at the water cooler to learn what is happening within the workplace, it could be a sign of poor management or mistrust of staff. If messages aren’t clear, feedback is fuzzy, and there’s a lack of direction provided, collaboration with colleagues and your professional progress will be impeded.
· A culture of blame
Are people unwilling to accept responsibility at your organization? Do they shun accountability when things go wrong and point the finger of blame elsewhere? If this sounds familiar, you may also have noticed that creativity is not as it used to be, and people are less willing to accept tasks that are delegated.
· There’s no enthusiasm
People dread coming to work. Absenteeism numbers are up. People are present, but the work ethic just isn’t there.
· People don’t trust each other – or management
A toxic culture is accompanied by mistrust, a fear of conflict, and low commitment. Instead of working collaboratively, people focus on their own individual success. Management doesn’t discuss strategy or business goals, creating a distance between employees and their employer.
At the extreme end of the scale, you may have noticed that shortcuts are being taken or even that people are being asked to mislead customers to boost sales or relieve the pressure on customer service. If this is the case, your career could become equally toxic.
Should You Stay When Workplace Culture Has Turned Sour?
OK, so your workplace culture is toxic. Does this mean it is time to jump ship? Is there any guarantee that securing a new program management job will deliver a better workplace? Here are five considerations to make before deciding to search for a new job.
1. If you stay, will your career benefit?
If there are signs that the culture will improve, the experience you’ve gained could enhance your career. Yes, there’s a lot of pain now, but could you tolerate it in the short term for longer-term gain?
2. Can you transfer internally?
Perhaps the toxicity isn’t organization-wide, but within your own team. If you love your employer but have become dismayed with your team environment, would a transfer to a different team be possible? You’ll benefit from continuity of employment, but must be certain that the toxic culture issue is only team-related and not an organizational issue.
3. Can the organization really change its culture?
Here’s one of the biggest questions you need to answer. Is the organization capable of changing? Signs to look for include development of communication strategies, training and development strategies, and development of managers. If you consider that the organization can change, then it may be worth staying.
4. Have you got the stamina to work to cope in a toxic culture?
A toxic culture is a burden on your mental health. It’s stressful, and that stress can be demotivating. A toxic culture can chisel away at you, chipping away at your resilience. Your personal productivity could fall, and those opportunities for advancement that you thought were there could disappear.
Take Professional Advice to Advance Your Career in a Program Management Job
If you are working in a toxic workplace, it can be difficult to make the decision to move, especially if you have several years invested in your employer. That’s why talking to a professional in recruitment could help.
Here at Loyal Source, you’ll find that we care about your career. It’s our mission to ensure you are placed with employers who appreciate your skills, experience and expertise – an employer that shares the same values and beliefs as you, and operates an environment that is conducive to your professional growth. For a confidential discussion about your career, contact Loyal Source today.