IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE, IT'S A NON-TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT!

In 2016 I was a shadow of myself. Each morning would begin with the soothing nature sounds from my iPhone alarm only to be followed by a heavy sigh of despair when I realized it was still a weekday.

Behind the facade of having a “good” job at a prestigious firm was a person whose joy evaporated as each day passed. The work I was tasked with didn’t resonate with my values, personality, or skillsets. I wish I could say I was an outlier, but that was far from the case. The toxicity of my work environment could not be attributed to an isolated issue. I had no significant qualms with leadership and for the most part positive work relationships. The toxicity was subtle. It lingered in the clouds of apathy that hovered over every interaction and I found myself trapped in a fog of indifference towards work that was bereft of meaning and purpose.

“A company that promotes apathy as a coping mechanism for toxic culture is one of the most dangerous places to work.”

There’s plenty of research on how categorically disengaged employees are at work. A more effective use of everyone’s time is to notice the patterns of a positive, life-sustaining work environment and recognize the warning signs of an unhealthy workplace. By redefining our standards we can find work that lift us up and prevents us from heading blindly into the apathy abyss. A company that promotes apathy as a coping mechanism for toxic culture is one of the most dangerous places to work.

After my decision to leave consulting and no longer spend my nights debating over hues of blue for a deck that would not be read, I began the search for my next career move. It was at this critical juncture that I realized a strategy was needed to find a workplace where I could flourish. The path to flourishing however did not come overnight. It took more than a year of deep inner-work, rejection, and patience to align myself to a role that authentically spoke to who I was. The outcome of that journey led me to share my approach for anyone else who might be in a similar position. So, without further ado…

5 Rules for Finding a Job in a Non-Toxic Work Environment

Rule #1 - The first place to look for a new career opportunity is within. Take the time to do some deep self-discovery on what you intrinsically desire from work and the type of culture you need to thrive.

Rule #1 in Practice: I made a promise to myself that my next role had to have an immediate and positive impact on human lives. I went through an imaging exercise of how I wanted to feel when I walked into my office each day and completed a job crafting exercise to diagram the details of my ideal job.

Rule #2 - Do not let enticing benefits replace meaningful work! So many companies dangle tempting benefits like remote Fridays or unlimited vacation as a tactic to distract you from the fact that the work lacks deep meaning and purpose. Stay woke.

Rule #2 In Practice: During your interview take heed to see if employees rave about their benefits more than their work or decision to join the organization. If they do it’s time to start back at Rule #1.

Rule #3 - The responsibility to proactively monitor your mental and physical well-being is yours, not your company’s. They say people quit managers not jobs and that’s usually true. Your manager, however, is not in control of your longevity. You must make small, significant choices daily to ensure that your health is the first priority. Well-being is the best performance-enhancing drug.

Rule #3 In Practice: Most people are aware of what stresses them and how to decompress. During the workday take a break. It isn’t cool to grind for 12 hours without a walk outside, stretch, or meal away from your desk. Put your well-being ahead of your Slack or Google Calendar.

Rule #4 – Seek out a community (or at least 1 colleague) of like-minded people at work that share your values. If you work at organization that has no explicitly stated mission or shared purpose, how can you gauge it’s alignment to your values? Find a community of peers where work serves as an extension of who they are and how they interact with the world.

Rule #4 In Practice: There is an incredible non-profit whose mission is to equip African-American teenagers with the tools to obtain a career in hi-tech. When I asked two of my colleagues to volunteer at an event with me they agreed before I could finish explaining what was required. It’s important to walk the talk when it comes to your shared values.

Rule #5 - Trust the process and embrace patience when searching for an incredible place to work. In this transactional economy where we are inundated with LinkedIn messages and AngelList alerts we can incorrectly assume that our dream job will just plop into our inbox. That is not always the case.

Rule #5 In Practice: It took me two years and 23 job applications to discover an organization that was tailor made for my skillsets, personality, and values. The difficult decision to be patient for an opportunity that deeply resonated with me prevented from taking the least worst option. I am grateful to show up to work each day at a company that places their people ahead of their product.

What’s next?

Everyone deserves to be passionate about the work they do regardless of their title within an organization. One of the happiest and most energetic people I ever met was a short-order cook in a corporate cafeteria. He was ecstatic to cook meals for us each day and considered his work the most rewarding job he ever had. His passion still inspires me to approach work each day with that same vigor.

When you are ready to make your next career switch do not decide in haste. The hours we spend at work totals to approximately 13 years of our lives. To put that in perspective, the hours most of us spend socializing with friends and family total to about 328 days in our lifetime. If we are to spend less than a year with our loved ones but more than a decade at work that experience should be nothing short of phenomenal.

Chad J. Thomas