Durré - Surviving the toxic workplace protect yourself against co-workers, bosses, and work environments that poison your day

PROTECT YOURSELF
Against the Co-workers, Bosses, and Work Environments That Poison Your Day

LINNDA DURR, Ph.D.

Copyright 2010 by Linnda Durr. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-0-07-166786-9

MHID: 0-07-166786-5

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Do you dread getting out of bed each day and dealing with bosses and co-workers who drive you crazy? Are you surrounded by people who are incompetent, negative, verbally abusive, and impossible to deal with? Have you asked the human resources department for help, yet nothing changes? These are all signs of Staff Infectionsthe difficulties you experience in dealing with toxic people and workplace conditions. Welcome to the reality that millions of people face on a daily basis. If it feels as if you are living in a Dilbert cartoon some days, then you need this book! In it you will find important information that will empower you to change your work environment, psychological explanations of the toxic behavior you experience, and, most important, techniques to remedy situations with obnoxious and difficult co-workers and bosses. After reading Surviving the Toxic Workplace and understanding how to communicate and be assertive, hopefully youll be able to enjoy your job, get along with people, and have a productive, rewarding, and satisfying work experience in a safe and protected environment.

This book is important to companies as well as individuals. On a larger scale, it could benefit the world economy. Companies lose billions of dollars each year because of miscommunication, poor time management, alcoholism and drug addiction, high turnover, and lowered productivity. The reverberations from any single incident could be catastrophic, resulting in costly lawsuits and court-imposed fines. This book will show you how to change such situations, stop them, and prevent them from happening againno matter if youre an entry-level employee or an executive.

Whether were in a flourishing, abundant economy or a recession, good communication skills, assertiveness, and cooperation are essential to running a company. In a recession, these traits become even more crucial because many times there are harsh cutbacks, with employees doing the job of two or even three people, hours and benefits are slashed, and tension, stress, and problems arise.

I will address these issues by first describing effective communication techniques and instructing you how to communicate with co-workers yourself. If my suggestions dont work, then it may be necessary to report the difficult co-worker to the boss or HR. Granted, there are times when it is mandatory to seek assistance from a supervisor and the head of HR. Try my techniques first before going to a higher level. Nobody benefits from being perceived as a helpless whiner, so its up to you to solve these challengesusing my proven techniques.

In some instances it might be necessary to confront your boss about his or her own difficult behavior. Obviously in this depressed economy you dont want to get fired. However, a confrontation wont necessarily translate into your losing your job. Find an example in this book that reflects your situation, and use it to your advantage. Be as tactful and diplomatic as possible while remaining clear, firm, and assertive. Practice the words beforehandperhaps in front of a mirroruntil you feel comfortable. You may even want to tape-record or videotape yourself, then review the tape to find your weak spots. You may also want to ask close friends, your partner, spouse, or a colleague for feedback. Remember, you have a right to a happy, hassle-free workplaceone that is free of distraction and discrimination.

Many people feel helpless and hopeless in confronting problems at work. They are thwarted at each turn by a rigid administration that doesnt want change, stifles open and honest communication, and makes trouble for people who make any attempt to speak up. In some companies, HR may side with the management against the workers, so your complaints could be squelched even further. Its true that this can be frustrating and painful, and in a bad economy, most people dont want to rock the boat. So you have a choicekeep quiet and put up with it, or say something to remedy it.