Working, creating and making money are important fundamentals to being human.
For those of you who are currently employed, I hope you are working at a place that you love. I mean, that’s everyone’s dream, right? Other than just being happy, doing something you love for a living, is right there as a top “life goal” for many people.
But what if you love the work, but not the workplace?
How do you even master having the mental and emotional energy needed to keep going if you work at a job where you don’t like your boss and your co-workers ooze pessimism and lack ethics?
If you’re in this situation, the great news is that just because you may work in a negative setting, that doesn’t have to hold you back from excelling and being the best employee and professional you were meant to be. Whether the job is temporary or you intend to move up in the company, here are five ways you can continue to stay motivated and positive in a toxic work environment:
1. Don’t Be Impulsive And Say Something You’ll Regret.
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As the old saying goes, “let your emotions subside and then decide.” It’s only human nature to want to defend ourselves when someone may say something rude to us-especially when it comes to our work. However, choosing to let your anger simmer down is always the best decision. Saying something impulsive could even cost you your job, especially when your problem is with your boss. Remember that you are representing your “brand.” Going down to other peoples’ levels will only add salt to the wound. Instead, be the bigger person and respond in a professional manner- that is something you’ll never regret.
2. Communication. CommUNICATION. COMMUNICATION.
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Clearly, I can’t stress this next point enough! A majority of the time, work environments become awkward due to a lack of communication amongst the staff. Don’t be afraid to ask your boss to call a meeting where you can talk (not yell) out issues that have been occurring. You’d be surprised at how many problems are solved simply because proper communication was placed back in order. Also, don’t be afraid to speak up in a work meeting. Take into consideration that those you work with may not know that you are being badly effected by their negativity or poor work ethic.
3. Don’t Take It Personal.
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It’s very easy to take how our fellow employees and bosses treat us to heart. We’re emotional beings so it’s only natural. It’s even more natural to foster bad feelings towards those who have hurt us. Before you start making rash judgements on the co-worker who’s always putting everyone down, take a second to look at it from their perspective. Sounds silly, but in reality there’s probably a reason why this person is being so mean and negative. Remember that everyone is fighting their own personal battles. Maybe this person is having problems at home or is struggling financially. Whatever the reason may be, take some time to perhaps get to know them and understand their story better. This will help smooth out work-related problems and get your relationship back on track so you can get good work done!
4. Be Kind Whenever Possible!
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This point stems off of the previous number three. If your work space already suffers from negativity, trust me, the last thing it needs is one more person in a bad mood. It’s easy to go with the crowd and be a pessimist. But you’re not like everyone else! You are strong and that means it’s up to you to add some light back into your job. Just a little bit of light illuminates a dark room. So to will your positive attitude and kindness help bring back life to your work place. It will also help you maintain a great work ethic that can look very impressive to your bosses.
5. Count Your Blessings, Even When It’s Hard.
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I read a funny poem once that was about a man venting to God about how rude his co-workers were and how badly they treated him. God replied, “Count your blessings. You’re a nice person, with a family who loves you. And if that still doesn’t comfort you, then take this as a peace of mind- hey, at least you’re not like them.”
In other words, you can’t always change the environment around you, let alone the people around you. But at the end of the day, always remember how extremely blessed you are. Where you are is not where you will always be. These tough work experiences will not last forever, but in the midst of the chaos, thank God for all the good things in your life and for the hardships, because it is those times that we are refined and become the person God has destined us to be.
Let’s Sum It Up, Shall We?
An important factor that I’d like to point out is that these tips are to help those who work in places where the environment is bad, but not intolerable. A workplace in which you experience harassment -whether it’s sexual, physical, mental or emotional- abuse, disrespect, or any type of prejudice or discrimination is NEVER OK. If you are working in an environment where one of your co-workers or bosses is discriminating against and/or abusing you, we urge you to take the proper legal action to make sure it stops and you can continue your career and life in a healthy environment.
All this adversity at work is making you a stronger person.
You are destined to do amazing things for this world through your good work and deeds. Staying motivated is not always easy, but if you put in the effort to stay positive it will be so worth it. Optimism and good work ethic will allow you to soar to new heights in your career.
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