The Day I Realised I Was the Toxic Colleague
Manage episode 516175091 series 3650536
In this deeply personal episode, I share the story that changed everything - the moment I realised I had become the toxic colleague I once feared.
What You'll Learn:
- How burnout transforms good people into toxic colleagues
The 6 key drivers that create toxic workplace cultures
Why complaining becomes a survival mechanism in broken systems
The unconscious ways we perpetuate harmful workplace dynamics
How changing environments can help us rediscover our authentic selves
Key Takeaways:
- Toxic workplace culture isn't created by inherently bad people - it's created by good people under impossible pressure
- When all burnout drivers are present (excessive workload, lack of control, poor work-life balance, no recognition, uncertainty, toxic behaviours), even compassionate people can become part of the problem
- Breaking the cycle requires conscious choice and often environmental chang
- We can choose to survive workplace challenges together with compassion rather than tearing each other down
Reflection Question: What energy are you bringing to your workplace conversations, and how might that be affecting your colleagues?
Resources Mentioned:
The 6 drivers of burnout and toxic workplace culture
Signs of unconscious toxic behaviour adaptation
Strategies for breaking negative workplace cycles
This episode marks 3 years of the Burnout Recovery Podcast - thank you for being part of this journey toward healthier, more sustainable work cultures.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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