Picking up from where we left off in Part 1, let’s explore more ways the change can start with you in ensuring you keep away from toxicity and actively promote a healthier and more positive work environment.
Be more perceptive as you go about your day
Usually, toxicity creeps in when you’re not fully aware of your behaviour and the impact it may have on others. Taking some time to observe and reflect on how you behave in certain situations may help you become more aware of the areas to focus on to ensure you are not unwittingly contributing to the toxicity in your work space.
What you can do:
– Practice brief pauses during the day to evaluate your actions. Have you maligned someone unknowingly? Have you been brash without meaning to be? Did you get agitated or agitate someone else? Also, as described in the last post, did you take deliberate steps to avoid gossip?
– It may take you longer than you thought to move away from talking about others behind their backs, but with practice, you can achieve this.
These intermittent self-checks and can go a long way in improving how you behave towards people
Be the Calm in the Storm
Every workplace has moments of high stress, and it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos. By choosing to remain calm and composed, you not only protect your own peace but also influence those around you to choose peace. A friend and I say this often to ourselves, ”peace is better than war.” Though we use it in a different context, it is a gentle reminder to all of us that peace is way better than war.
Calmness is contagious, and your ability to stay calm and in control of your emotions will most definitely inspire others to do the same.
What you can do:
– When faced with a heated situation, take deep breaths or step away for a few minutes to regroup.
– Don’t be impulsive in your responses. Practice the pause before you respond to that SMS, send that email or give that ‘sharp response’ A pause could be the difference between a soft answer and an escalation that could lead to strife and increased negativity.
Recognize and Celebrate Wins
In toxic environments, negativity often overshadows achievements. Competition and the need to outshine others most times results in toxicity. If you are a team leader, celebrate team wins and take the focus off specific/individual wins. If you are a team member, genuinely celebrate others in your team. Everyone has something they bring to the table. Celebrate their uniqueness. Taking time to recognize and celebrate both individual and team accomplishments can inject positivity into your workplace and make everyone feel valued.
What you can do:
– Send a quick ‘’well done!’’ email or acknowledge input during meetings for a task well done.
– Keep a gratitude board or team achievement tracker to highlight wins—big or small.
– Find something you appreciate in/about a team member and constantly affirm them for it.
Let your actions speak louder than your words
If you want to truly avoid toxicity, let your actions speak louder than your words. People are more likely to adopt positive behaviours when they see others practicing them consistently (emphasis on consistently). Stay consistent in your efforts to avoid toxicity.
What you can do:
– Be known for integrity even if it is not the culture in your workplace
– Avoid engaging in workplace politics even if everyone seems to be doing it
– Stay consistent. More people than you realize are watching, and your consistency will encourage them to try to take the higher path, avoiding toxicity themselves.
In conclusion…
Avoiding toxicity isn’t about waiting for others to change, or pointing accusing fingers at everyone else, but yourself, it is about choosing to be a part of the solution, choosing to be the change you want to see. By practicing empathy, staying perceptive, staying calm, celebrating wins, and leading by example, you can spread positivity in your workplace.
As was written earlier, the workplace may not always be “strawberry cheesecake and potlucks,” but with deliberate actions, you can thrive—even in a challenging environment.
Final Thoughts
The next time you feel tempted to complain about your work environment and make general comments like, ‘’they are so toxic here’’, pause and think: What am I doing to make things better?

Change starts with you, and your light can be the spark that brings the much needed change in your workplace.

Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more strategies and inspiration in the next post.