The feeling of uselessness, in general, can manifest itself in an individual as a feeling that there is no qualification to perform their duties well, or even some relevant purpose related to the functions of the position held. In this sense, the context of a work environment is especially considered.
However, in most cases, this perception is the result of a lack of awareness of the level of importance of what is done within the daily routine of the organization as a whole. Furthermore, this feeling is often the result of a toxic work atmosphere , which can generate several other impacts on the professional’s life, even on a personal level.
Considering the importance of this topic (and the need to pay more attention to this distortion of thinking), we have prepared this post . The aim is to help you identify the signs of a toxic work environment, the possible negative effects that can be perceived in the medium and long term, and how to start the process of overcoming it.
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What are the signs of a toxic work environment that has the potential to create a feeling of uselessness in the professional?
Initially, it is important to understand what characterizes a toxic work environment. In this sense, it is possible to associate this concept with a space that negatively affects the well-being of the staff as a whole , generally increasing levels of worry , stress and anxiety .
Listing all the elements that may indicate that you have been working in a place like this is difficult, especially because sometimes these factors are not easily perceived at first. However, companies in which “rug pulling”, gossip, verbal abuse, blackmail, manipulation, coercion, etc. have become common can be classified as such.
However, it is more common than one might think to confuse toxic and/or abusive behaviors and circumstances, with the potential to harm the mental health of employees, with practices inherent to what could be defined as the company’s “culture”, its “modus operandi” . This is because, at times, they are less explicit, so to speak.
Therefore, in this section, the idea is to list some signs that indicate that your work environment is toxic and, probably, the atmosphere of the place is the reason for the development of feelings of uselessness and the like.
Lack of general motivation
It is true that one should not judge a work environment by the level of quality of the professionals who work there. However, if the majority of a company’s staff is unmotivated, this will probably also affect them or is already affecting them.
The fact is that, just as having highly proactive and engaged coworkers can inspire you to strive to excel, unmotivated and disinterested workers have the same potential to “contaminate” the entire environment. And, of course, this scenario is always the result of a much larger organizational problem.
However, regardless of the reason, the truth is that if everyone around you is unmotivated, you are probably in a toxic workspace.
High turnover rates
Considering, mainly, the economic crisis scenario that we are currently experiencing, voluntary dismissal is a difficult decision to make. Therefore, high turnover rates, when several employees are choosing to leave the company, indicate that the problem is probably within the company.
Conversely, when there are frequent layoffs (i.e. involuntary terminations), other toxic elements can be revealed, such as a lack of direction, lack of organization or poor leadership. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to this rate.
Little (or no) prospect of growth
If professionals working in an organization constantly feel like they are “going nowhere,” this could be another indication that the corporate atmosphere is toxic, contributing to a feeling of worthlessness. Have you noticed that there is no room for improvement where you are?
After all, if the company does not offer opportunities for growth and learning or any other type of mobility, there is probably no investment in employee development. Although the lack of resources, in this case, may be the reason for this, it is possible that there is simply no culture of valuing professionals.
What are the impacts that a toxic workspace can have on employees and how can they be overcome?
The discussion about Burnout Syndrome is gaining more and more space , which is another consequence that arises when the employee’s relationship with work involves anxiety, high levels of stress and nervousness. The result is high professional exhaustion .
In this context, it becomes imperative to put certain actions into practice in order to overcome the evils that this type of environment can bring, including the feeling of uselessness. So, starting today:
- be prepared to speak for yourself in order to defend your own interests, whether by seeking dialogue with your immediate superior or by contacting the human resources department;
- Avoid “bad apples” whenever possible, reducing interactions with other professionals who have the “gift” of contaminating the space around them as much as possible. In this case, choose to work with colleagues who lift your spirits;
- establish bonds of friendship , so that you can turn to one or two trustworthy friends with whom you can talk about things that really cannot be changed, and that will always exist, or at least distract yourself;
- Leave your job if you identify that alternative measures are not enough and that the company’s atmosphere is actually making you sick. To do so, you need to be sensitive to your health signals and respect your limits.
As we have seen, a toxic work environment, in the medium and long term, can generate several negative impacts on the mental health of professionals, contributing not only to the emergence of a feeling of uselessness and stagnation, but also to the development of more serious clinical conditions, such as depression. Therefore, in light of everything that has been said in this post , when you realize that it is necessary to put an end to it for the sake of your health, do so.
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