Most leaders lack self-awareness and create toxic workplaces without even knowing it because it feels normal to them. They go through their days behaving in ways that are detrimental to themselves and their employees because they’ve always done it that way. Workplace habits are hard to interrupt unless leaders consciously decide to do something else. Here are some leadership behaviors that demonstrate a lack of self-awareness and are very common in a toxic workplace:
- Shouting orders.
- Not listening to people.
- Not allowing people to have a voice.
- Underpaying employees.
- Not giving people time off to recharge or balance their lives.
- Behavior correction through punishment.
- Imposing strict hierarchy.
- Like it or there’s the door attitude.
- Getting angry or behaving disrespectfully.
- Putting employees under constant stress.
- Sticking people in boxes.
- Limiting creativity or self-expression.
The standard reaction when I point out these toxic behaviors is one of surprise or confusion because so many of our workplaces function based on these types of actions. The key to building a happy and productive workplace is being able to envision a workplace where self-aware, empathic, positive practices are the norm. For example, a healthy workplace would likely value these behaviors:
- Asking people to do things in a kind way.
- Listening.
- Encouraging people to use their voices.
- Paying a living wage.
- Giving people generous time off.
- Helping people find their own best behaviors.
- Creating a horizontal organizational structure.
- Helping people generate their own solutions to difficult issues.
- Behaving kindly, compassionately and respectfully.
- Building a workplace that doesn’t stress people out.
- Allowing people to use their talents and abilities.
- Welcoming creativity and individuality.
Many leaders who lack self-awareness are highly skeptical of this type of approach and don’t think it’s possible or practical; which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because, if you don’t believe you can create a healthy workplace, you won’t. It takes time, energy, self-awareness and commitment to design a work environment where leaders and employees behave positively but it feels great when you achieve it.
What will you do to develop self-awareness and create a healthy workplace?
Cheers,
Guy