We've all probably encountered at least one toxic coworker during the course of our professional lives. But what if you're that toxic coworker? And even worse, what if it's you — and you don't even know it? How do you tell whether you're a toxic coworker? Because nobody wants to be that coworker everyone runs screaming from in horror, right?
Well, good news: Fast Company is here for you, and they're going to help you figure it all out. Not only have they put together a handy little video geared towards separating toxic workplace behavior from good workplace etiquette, but even better, it's in a particularly useful format: A quiz. It asks you a handful of questions, giving you a few options as to how to answer for each one; then it tells you why one options is preferably over the other. Easy-peasy, right?
Now, obviously a one minute-long video won't cover every single type of toxic coworker there is — but the five warning signs seen here give you a few red flags to be on the lookout for, both when it comes to your own behavior and the behavior of the people you work alongside. Are you ready for this? Are you suuuuuure? OK. Here we go:
1. Meeting New Coworkers
The correct response is…
After you say your initial hello, you can always add something like, “If you need anything, I'm always happy to help!” That way they know they can come to you if they need it, but you're not shoving unwanted advice down anyone's throat.
2. In-Meeting Behavior
The correct response is…
There's a reason most meetings have specific agendas to follow. Bringing up concerns at the appropriate time will help keep things on track — and on schedule. No one likes meetings that run late.
3. Office Gossip
The correct response is…
This should be a no-brainer. Office gossip, no matter how much you want to indulge in it, is usually a bad idea.
4. Friction Between Coworkers
The correct response is…
I think it's also worth noting, though, that different situations call for different responses. If you're being bullied at work, it might require more than just a stern conversation. These tips for dealing with a workplace bully are a good place to start — and if you're the bully? Good gravy, stop doing it!
If you got more than half of these questions wrong… well, I hate to break it to you, but you're probably somewhere on the workplace toxicity scale. But hey, identifying the behavior is the first step to changing it, so that's good news, right? And even if you aren't one (congratulations! Keep doing what you're doing!), it might be useful to brush up on what constitutes toxic behavior. These nine personality types are worth watching out for; so are these annoying workplace habits. Trying to curb those tendencies in yourself and developing strategies to deal with others who display them might be the best way to ensure a happy workplace.
Watch the full video below:
Images: Fast Company (8)
