Strategies for Surviving and Thriving in a Toxic Workplace

How many toxic culture bingo squares did you check off?

(If it’s more than a couple... grab a snack. We need to talk.)

Let’s be honest: you don’t need a fancy engagement survey to know when a culture is toxic. You feel it. In your gut. In your group chats. And in that voice in your head that says, “Is it me... or is this place actually insane?”

Toxic workplaces drain more than just your energy—they chip away at your confidence, your well-being, and your empathy. They’re a leading cause of burnout, and unfortunately, they don’t come with a warning label.

So if you're stuck in one, don't just brace yourself—arm yourself. Here’s how to survive with your sanity (and soul) intact:

✅ 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 — 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒓

Lean on trusted colleagues, allies, or that friend who understands your “I need to scream into the void” texts.

And yes, therapy counts. (Highly.)

✅ 𝑺𝒆𝒕 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝑶𝒏 𝑰𝒕 (𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔)

That “quick” check-in meeting at 7pm? Decline.

That Slack thread full of drama? Mute.

You can’t control the chaos—but you can control your exposure to it.

✅ 𝑭𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍

You can’t change your boss’s passive-aggressive email style.

You can decide not to let it ruin your weekend.

Anchor yourself in your own actions and reactions. That's where your power lives.

✅ 𝑳𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝑼𝒑—𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒀𝒐𝒖

Take on a project that stretches you. Sign up for that online class.

Shadow someone who’s doing work you admire.

Building skills is a great way to focus forward (and pad your escape resume).

✅ 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅

When everyone else is playing Game of Thrones: The Cubicle Edition, stay grounded.

You don’t need to out-snark, out-gossip, or out-politic.

You just need to protect your peace.

✅ 𝑫𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝑫𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝑫𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕

When in doubt, screenshot.

Keep a record of questionable behavior—not to be petty, but to be prepared.

Facts keep you grounded when emotions run high.

Facts are your best friend if things escalate.

✅ 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏 (𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕 𝑬𝒙𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔)

If you’re done—and I mean done—that’s valid.

Start small: update your resume, reach out to a mentor, explore new roles.

Set goals, take action, build momentum.

Because here's the truth:

It’s not you being too sensitive.

It’s the culture being too broken.

And you? You deserve better than surviving. You deserve a workplace where you can thrive.

#toxiccultures #badbosses #toxicworkplaces #leadership #januscoaching