Take These 3 Steps to Cleanse a Toxic Work Culture
Social toxicity. It’s a plague that, left unchecked, can wreak havoc on companies far and wide.
Over the past decade, the phrase 'company culture' has become a hot topic in the business world thanks to young startups rejecting (and reinventing) the old stuffy corporate environment epitomized in the cult classic film, "Office Space".
A toxic work culture is something that develops over time, so to create any real change you’re going to have to first admit to yourself that the fault lies with no one but yourself and seek to make a change. If you can do that (as any real leader should have the capability of doing), you’re ready to get started working on your toxicity problem.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that secrets are toxic and break up families.– Jane Ridley
If you’re a young or inexperienced business owner, one of the most difficult things to get right is a healthy work culture. Often, it’s our own behaviors that take root within those that work with us, both healthy and not.
If you’ve identified the root of this toxic culture within yourself, you’re already off to a great start. Healing always begins within from the source, so step one is complete. Now, let’s talk about the single most important effort of all: taking your culture of toxicity and transforming it into a culture of communication.
Open lines of communication
A toxic work culture is often the result of a lack of open, clear, and conscious communication. This is the single most important step to cleansing a toxic work culture.
Again, this starts with you. And it starts with one very important skill: listening.
It’s through the ability to listen that you’ll be able to connect more closely with your team and colleagues and identify issues. It will take time for these to heal, but by listening and seeking to make changes that solve these issues progress can be made.
Also, as a side note, keep in mind that this does sometimes mean removing a toxic individual. Oftentimes, a toxic culture can develop through no one person’s fault. A lack of communication can cause good people to conflict with one another, so that’s what we’re focusing on here. However, there will be times where, through these new open lines of communication, you’ll identify someone that just has to go.
Set the example
Creating a culture of open communication is the most important step of all, but as the original issue took root from your own example (whether toxic behavior or a lack of leadership and not knowing how to listen to your team when toxic behavior arose), this new culture will need to arise from your example as well.
To make open communication a part of your company culture, examples have to be set from the top down. Whether you’re CEO, management, or simply a team lead, whether they say it openly or not, those under you look to you for leadership and will follow the example you set – whatever example that may be.
Speak openly but in a kind and constructive way. You don’t want to hold back but you also want to show others that you can work through issues in a way that doesn’t require a verbal fistfight.
Listening is also a skill that can be passed down, where team members can become better listeners when colleagues are pitching ideas and expressing opinions about the direction of a project.
Start Fresh: Implement a method for reconciliation
Okay, so this is your failsafe.
Despite opening lines of communication, conflict will occur. We’re human and that’s just how it goes. That’s why the next step is to implement such a failsafe for when that inevitable conflict occurs.
Zen master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh is a master of interrelations and uses a highly effective practice for handling interpersonal conflicts when they arise between residents at his world-renowned Plum Village monastery. He calls it Beginner Anew.
I’ve adapted a simpler version of the practice that is more practical in a professional environment. I call it, “Start Fresh”. This is an exercise done by two people either in a group setting or in private with you as overseer.
The steps are as follows (each step listed is done twice, once for each person involved):
- Name a strength the other person has: While each person stands or sits in front of the other, have them list off something they admire about the other person or a strength they have.
- Express how you feel about your actions: Now that each person has been shaken out of their state of anger and has gained a bit of clarity, have them express how they feel about the argument. Specifically, anything they might regret having said.
- Express how you feel about the other person’s actions: Did something hurt you? What made you angry? How did that make you feel? Have each person answer these questions.
- Start fresh: Ask one another what can be done to resolve the disagreement. Make sure each person is listening closely to what the other person has to say before they begin to speak themselves. If you’re on the sidelines, try not to step in at any point in the process unless it starts becoming derailed.
A toxic work culture starts with you. But if you’re willing to do the work necessary to cleanse this culture and start fresh, you can transform a toxic work culture into a place of open communication and greater teamwork.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.