7 fool-proof ways to stay positive in a toxic workplace

7 fool-proof ways to stay positive in a toxic workplace7 fool-proof ways to stay positive in a toxic workplaceAt one point or another, fruchtwein people have found themselves working in a less than ideal environment. Maybe its a manager, a peer, or the teams values or vision thats bothersome, or maybe theres simply a gnawing feeling that something is wrong.I asked my students in the Career Preparation course I teach at the Quinlan School of Business atLoyola University Chicagohow many of them have ever had a bad boss or toxic colleague (or classmate). Over 90% raised their hands.Over 90% of these undergraduate students have already experienced this.Theres a lot we need to do as a culture to improve the workplace, and while generally speaking the workplace at largeismoving in a more empathetic, positive direction, toxic environments still exist. So what canyoudo to remain positive if you find yourself in this type of situation?Here are 7 things to do tostay positivein a toxic work cul tureFind a compatriotWe feel it, were told it, and theresearch supportsit friends matter. Having someone were close with at work helps up (of course, like any other menschenfreundlich interaction, negative relationships can ensue too), but having people in your corner, who get you, and understand your circumstance- good or bad, is extremely helpful in the workplace. This can be even truer when you are in a less than ideal environment. Having at least one friend at work when times are tough can be what makes or breaks you staying at the firm, or remaining sane while you look for whats next.Talk with someoneMaybe your workplace is small or you dont connect with your colleagues, or maybe you simply dont have a work BFF, and thats part of the problem You dont need to communicate your concerns or uneasiness with colleagues but you do need to communicate it to someone. Talk with a friend, a family member, therapist, coach- someone. One of the worst things to do when youre in the middle of a toxic work environment is to keep it to yourself.This breeds the mental reactions also bred by gas lighting (which canbe a symptom of a toxic environment)- Youll begin to wonder ifyourethe problem. Talking with someone will help you deduce fact from fiction.Take breaks and use yourPTOwiselyYou have PTO and alunchbreak for a reason. All humans require downtime, space, and simply stopping for a moment. You need this even more if youre a toxic environment. Its nice to dart off to a tropical island to recharge- and if you can and thats what you want, you should But if you cant take an extended vacation or short trip out of town thats okay too- find small ways to take breaks daily. Leave your desk for lunch. Go on a 5-minute walk alone. Walk to the ladies room and stay for a moment longer. Even the busiest of days at the most demanding companies there are ways to find a moment for you.ExerciseTheres a reason exercise is almost always on the list of any recommendations for maintaining sanity, composure, and happiness. This is because what exercise does for the mind and body is really remarkable. Whether its yoga that helps you get centered, an intense spi class that makes you focus on nothing else for 45 minute, a brisk walk, or anything in between- moving your body will help you cope, stay positive, and react more rationally. Bonus if you can do it during a break during the day.Set goalsGoal platzsetting is one of the most effective tactics for personal and professional growth. Its powerful in long-term movement but also with managing day-to-day work. If youre struggling to remain positive use this tactic. From a short-term approach, set small, micro-goals. Maybe youll committ to catching yourself each time you start slipping into a negative thought, youll organize a happy hour within the next 3 weeks, or youll make it a point to have lunch with 2 new peers. If youre struggling to determine where your role at this toxic company fits into your larger career, use goals too. Consider things like What are you hoping to accomplish from this role? What are your limits?Its important to set personal goals that are yours alone so you can decide whats best for you regarding staying or going. I firmly believe in the power of goal setting, but also believe it is deeply personal and therefore does not have t fit a certain mold. What does need to happen in regards to goal setting and establishing limits at a company youre not your best self at, is to do it.Establish and honor your limitsIf youve done all these things and your situation still feels unbearable or unfixable, that might be because it is. If youve found ways to cope, brought positivity to work, taken breaks and taken care of yourself, established short and long-term goals to propel yourself forward, but still have determined this is not a good environment for you- honor that. Have an honest conversation with yourself, even better if you can do it with someone else.If you want to leave,develo p a strategyMaybe youd set some goals or established a limit and realize its time to move on. Maybe youre not there quite yet, but there comes in a time for anyone who finds herself in a toxic work environment when you think to yourself,Should I leave?Sometimes the answer is no, but sometimes the answer is yes. When the answer is yes, it is up to you to take action.I used to be shocked when my clients would tell me theyve been in toxic work environment- or simply painstakingly unhappy- for years. Now, I realize how common it is, but also that its fixable. Of course sometimes there are reasons why you cant just up and leave a job, but if you are unhappy, if you are in a toxic environment, if you want and are ready for something different- you must come up with and execute a strategy to move yourself forward. This will not just happen to you. That last piece is important and much too frequently goes ignored- you are responsible for you and you must take your career and life into your own hands. If you decide you need to leave the team, a specific manager, the company, the city, the state, the country- whatever, Im telling you that itispossible but you will need to work hard for it.How? Connect with yourself and your wants, talk with a mentor or a trusted friend, or hire a coach if you need someone objective and outside yournetwork. Come up with a game plan and go.Negative work environments are real and can wreak havoc on all aspects of your life. But they dont have to Find the techniques to remain positive and productive that work for you, and be honest with yourself if its time for a change. Your family, friends, and your future-self willthank you.This post originally appeared on Fairygodboss.

5 Ways to Protect Your Online Reputation

5 Ways to Protect Your Online Reputation5 Ways to Protect Your Online ReputationIn todays world, your reputation and identity in the online marketplace can make or break your business. Whether the information is true or false, who you are in the online community has become reality in the business world. This is especially important in a business in which referrals as a big part of client intake. In order to keep your reputation intact, it is important to know whats being said about you. Here are five things you can do to enaya your online reputation is not costing you clients and damaging your reputation. Check Search Engines at Least Once a Month Its not enough to search your business every year (or even every few months) anymore. Customers are writing about companies in record numbers on online review sites, in blogs and social media. To find out what people are saying about you, search for your business on all the major search engines. Also, check industry-related community we bsites for mentions that may not show up on a major search engine but are still relevant to your customer base. Consider setting up an RSS feed or an automatic alert to help track this information. Google Alerts is a great way to see when your name appears on search engines immediately. To create an alert, go to the Google Alerts homepage and then type in your name in the Create an alert about box. You can select if youd like to receive email alerts as your name appears, once a day, or once a week. Claim Your geschftlicher umgang Profile Nearly everyone doing business today (including potential clients and customers) rely on the power of the web to find service providers and to gain information. It is why its important to claim your business profile across the web and on every social media site. Even if you have no intention of ever using Twitter for business, grab your Twitter handle using your name so no one else can do it. Have a Policy and Make Someone Responsible Since online chatter is constant, you need to have a consistent process and policy about managing your online reputation. Determine what customer service actions can be taken across all the different channels and make monitoring those channels a part of your company policy. If you work in a larger business environment, designate a person in charge of monitoring online mentions and responding to feedback according to the company policy. This individual should be someone who has a strong working knowledge of social networking. Distribute Content A search of your business name that yields few results can be equally damaging as having several negative reviews. Customers want to trust what they are buying and the company from whom they are buying. Not having information to access may turn off potential buyers. Make sure that you are providing information on your website, social networking sites, and through press releases, so people can easily find content. Continually providing informati on will help your online identity grow and will ultimately improve your search engine results. You can also harness the power of social media to create and share content, and promote yourself as an expert. Answer questions on Twitter and participate in industry-specific LinkedIn Group discussion. When you do create content, be sure to share it on these profiles and Facebook. Use a Professional Software Solution to Help It may be worth investing in a software solution, such as reputation.com, to help you monitor and clean up your online presence. This service, for example, is an all-in-one platform for online review management, local search visibility, and social media designed for businesses. They also offer a service that allows you to measure your businesss performance against competitors. Knowing what is being said online about you and your company is just as critical as making sure there is enough said. Take the time to conduct regular searches on your business name and make sure you have plenty of positive content online.

5 ways Ive increased productivity while working from home

5 ways Ive increased productivity while working from home5 ways Ive increased productivity while working from homeOver the years Ive been employed in different industries in different environments.From postproduction studios and administrative offices to retail stores, I toiled away on the clock, and, under my boss watchful eye, for much of my working life I always felt moderately productive.It wasnt until I began working from home as an editor and writer nearly a decade ago that I realized how little I was getting accomplished in a traditional work environment, compared to performing my duties while in my own space.Im now more productive than ever, and I attribute much of that to following these productivity tips.1. I exercise first thing in the morningIve always found exercising at night to hype me up too much instead of winding me down, so I prefer to do my workouts in the morning. I hit the gym early to get in some hardcore sweat sessions before heading home to have a quick showe r, grab a coffee, and sit down to work.I find that getting my body moving first thing also gets my brain in gear so that Im awake, focused, and ready to conquer my day. Even if youre not doing cardio or weight lifting, just taking the dog out for a brisk walk can help get you ready to seize the day.2. I stand up at least once an hour and walk away from my computerMaybe you have a fitness tracker that reminds you when youve been sedentary too long (typically once an hour, at least on my Apple Watch). If not, you can set your own timer on your phone or even online to remind you to stand up and get your blood flowing again at regular intervals. This is not only good for your body but also your brain.I find that when I stand up at least once an hour, I can sort of shake off the haze that comes over me when Im focused on one task for a long time. When I sit back down, I feel refreshed and ready to get back to it. Bonus tip The better hydrated you are, the more often youll have to get up and use the bathroom, so that might be helpful here, too.3. I lock myself out of social media during periods of heavy workloadSocial media is a time suck during my free time, and I cant afford to have it ruining my work hours too. While its fine to take a little break now and then to browse the web, I try to ensure Im using that time wisely - say, to catch up on the local nachrichten or look up a recipe to make for dinner that night. I know if I get on Twitter or Facebook, I can kiss goodbye to valuable time.I now have enough self-control to just avoid going to those sites while Im trying to accomplish a particularly large or pressing task, but if you dont, you could always use a plugin or website to do it for you. (I recommend the Google Chrome add-on StayFocused to keep you on task.)4. I create my own business hours, if possibleWhether you can do this depends on your profession, your companys policies, and how timely your work is. The standard 9-to-5 isnt for everyone, and if you re working on projects that dont adhere to those hours, theres no reason you should have to, either.Maybe youre a morning person and love getting up at 6 and cracking on with the days tasks bright and early. Or maybe youre a night owl who works best in the later hours of the day. Im the former and, thankfully, my boss doesnt seem to mind. As long as my works done that day, it doesnt matter what time it happens.If you can swing this, itll make you way more productive.5. I work ahead instead of playing catch-upWhen Ive finished a given days tasks, I dont simply close up shop, even if Id prefer to wartezimmer in front of the TV. Instead, I look into the week ahead and see what else I have coming up and if I can make a dent in the workload starting now. Doing so means I have much more wiggle room if things come up the next day or later that week and I dont get too far behind.Again, this isnt possible for all jobs, but if it is for you, I highly recommend it. Its way better than getting stressed when you fall behind later down the line.This article first appeared on Business Insider.