Christine Porath’s recent article in The New York Times created a quiz to assess toxicity in a work environment suggesting that how we treat one another at work matters.
Porath presents 13 statements and asks employees to rate them on a seven-point “Always to Never” scale:
- My manager is disrespectful.
- People I work with are disrespectful.
- My colleagues fail to pass along information or resources.
- My co-workers are uncivil in e-mail.
- My colleagues email or text during meetings.
- Leadership doesn’t care how we treat one another.
- People I work with put others down.
- My colleagues don’t listen to one another.
- The people I work with belittle others verbally or nonverbally.
- My colleagues take too much credit.
- People I work with pay little attention or show little interest in others.
- My co-workers pass the blame when they’ve contributed to a mistake.
- My colleagues neglect saying please or thank you.
These 13 statements obviously reflect problematic working conditions that can contribute to a “toxic” environment.
Solution: A values-driven corporate culture with the following seven core values to eliminate the problem:
Respect
Open Communication
Civility
Politeness
Active Listening
Fairness
Responsibility
When everyone in an organization (1) participates in developing a set of core values, (2) commits to actions (behaviors) that reflect those values, and (3) holds each other accountable to that commitment, problem employees will either learn to be civil or they will self-select themselves out of the company.