Stress, anger, frustration, mistrust ---negative work cultures are everywhere! People issues seem to be the leading cause of job-related stress and low morale. An article entitled Five Reasons to Find a New Job reported that stress is on the march in the workplace. Fifty-five percent of workers said they have high levels of stress with symptoms of extreme fatigue and feelings of being out of control. This finding does not surprise me. I see people every day in our client organizations who are anxious, angry and frequently miserable. I find this level of unhappiness at work to be alarming! The article was suggesting that this stress is a reason to change jobs. However, unless the organization in which the person works is incredibly dysfunctional, changing jobs is not going to solve the problem. The stressful work cultures are too common these days. In my opinion, the best solution is for our organizational leaders to focus on creating work environments and organizational cultures that are civil, respectful and open. I’m not suggesting that our organizations focus exclusively on the internal culture at the expense of the productivity and profitability of the company. On the contrary, creating positive work cultures can increase productivity, customer satisfaction, and the bottom line.

1. Establish norms for respectful behaviors and demonstrate intolerance for any communications or behaviors that violate the norms.
2. Enforce a zero tolerance policy for unethical or merely uncivil behaviors.
3. Lead by example.
4. Do not engage in or allow others to engage in passive-aggressive behaviors. (E.g. indirect attacks, talking behind backs, sabotage, etc. ) Communicate honestly, directly, and frequently with employees. Never avoid or distort the truth even if the messages are hard.
5. Admit your mistakes. Don’t cover up or pass on the blame. Encourage others to do the same.
6. Provide training and other developmental experiences and tools for managers to teach the basic skills of communication and supervision.
7. Develop keen self-awareness. The more you understand your own anxieties, fears, values, hot buttons, the better equipped you will be to control your own impulses and behaviors.
8. Provide opportunities for people to contribute their ideas and suggestions for how to make the work place more productive and less stressful.
9. Never shoot the messenger. Instead, provide forums for people to bring the good news and the bad.
10. Create an open environment in which people can examine work practices and ‘sacred cows’ without fear of reprisal.

These ten steps could go a long way in getting you started on your journey to turn around a stressful and possibly dysfunctional work culture.