Don’t Let Work Be a Toxic Waste Zone Presenter: Anglia Smith

Who I am, and what I do. Serving at Banquets We lift each other up Cleaning up Cloudy Road Training to be better leaders for CNYAB

What Will We Cover? Signs of a toxic work zone Ways to change zones What Zone Do I Create? Good Vibes!!!

Four Signs Your Workplace is Toxic Narcissists Gossiping Colleagues Lack of Transparency Inconsistent Rulebook These four things can kill all your good vibes!

Narcissist Information source: https://www.forbes.com/sites

New Zone Think about the other person and what their needs and ideas are. By putting others needs before your own, you have taken the first step in creating a heathier zone. This is not easy if you are narcissistic, but it can be done.

Gossiping Colleagues SICK ZONE!!!: Idle talk about the personal or private affairs of others In an office where everyone is wearing ear buds and not talking to each other, but communicating about each other on messenger Source https://www.forbes.com/sites

Solutions Get rid of the ear buds! Talk to each other about what isn’t going well Find ways to work together Push yourself harder to do the right thing

Cure for Gossip Have a team meeting After speaking with the individuals separately have a group discussion Encourage positive gossip Encourage associates to share positive stories Be the example Employees will look to you for how they should behave Become a role model

Lack of Transparency Changing goals without notification Unclear on how your performance will be measured Unsure of your job description No clear rubric for advancement Unaware of the big picture regarding the organization Ask questions. Stay for the answer. This is never okay. Don’t hide details. It is your responsibility to have the facts about your job. If you don’t have a job description, make one and visit with your boss on what you would like to know. As a leader you need to understand that not everything is share information. Share what you can share and explain when you are unable to share. https://www.forbes.com/sites

Creating Transparency Start by being transparent yourself By being transparent with others you demonstrate its benefits Explain your decisions Listen to feedback it will make the people around you more comfortable Develop transparent work processes Utilize a collaborative task and project management tool This tool will allow all associates to see progress on projects Doing these things is important in making the work zone healthy. We all have a part to play.

Inconsistent rulebook Lack of basic fairness between associates People being aggressive in private but is hospitable in group “It’s fine for me to do that, but not anyone else. I’m the boss.” or “I’m Choctaw.”

How to Repair Inconsistent Rule Books Focus on results Deliver consistently in what you do. All rules apply to everyone. Discuss your feelings with the necessary people. Issues cannot be resolved without all parties being aware of the situation. Speak up when you see inconsistency. Get the rules defined. Policies and rules should be clearly defined and followed. Again, everyone has a role to play in this. You know why you were hired, what you were hired to do and how you were hired to do it. No short cuts. Short cuts cost money on so many levels. https://www.forbes.com/sites

Changing the Work Zone The work zone will not change over night. Reset your attitude to Humble & Kind. That is the true you & who others need. Be open to differences in personalities & leadership styles. Be honest about how you feel about things. This will keep us from hiding our true feelings, only to be gossiping about how we really feel. Make sure your attitude sets the mood for the atmosphere to be healthy.

Keeping toxins out of the Work Zone Stop and reset when you know there is a problem. Have an emergency meeting when needed. Open door policy can be adopted and used. Do what it takes to keep the work zones free of all toxins. Do fun things together as a team.

Faith, Family & Culture Put your faith to work. Love & serve Jesus by serving others. Family is the people you work with. Choctaw culture is serving others. Everyone can do their part in cleaning up the work place. Leadership begins within us. If everyone raises the standard within themselves the healing will begin. When I look at what I can do to better things, instead of only thing and talking about what someone else is doing. Then I am part of the answer instead of being toxic.

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS YAKOKE!!!

Site information: https://www.forbes.com/sites