What would you say if I suggested there’s no such thing as a Toxic Culture?
Ridiculous? Lies? Agree?
For me the word “toxic” is banded about freely.
Just this morning, I’ve recieved two separate email newsletters focusing on identifying toxic cultures.
But what is “toxic”?
Well. Something that’s toxic is toxic to all people all the time.
In some of these “toxic” cultures, some individuals thrive. So how can they be toxic?
Take Twitter.
Musk has been vocal in his view that, if you want to work at X, you will be expected to work hard, sleep in the office on occasion, deal with his direct “feedback” and the unplanned, free-wheeling pace of change.
Personally, that doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.
Yet there are people queuing to be involved. They want to work in that culture.
How can it be toxic?
My view is that there are three factors involved:
1. What does the company claim to be?
This is what we sign-up for. It’s what attracts us to an organisation. Their vision, their purpose, and the difference they make.
2. What is the reality of the company?
How is life at the organisation in reality? Does their walk match their talk?
3. The delta or difference between those two factors.
“I was attracted to the organisation, because I perceived it to be x, y, and z. But the reality is it’s a, b, and c”.
This is the root of the issue.
If the organisation claims to be one thing (e.g.; We trust and empower our employees) but the day-to-day has no or contrary evidence to that promise (e.g.; Micromanagement and observation of employees), then the walk and talk don’t match.
That is a mismatched culture.
However, each individual bought in to that initial promise and are now being asked to behave in a way that they did not agree to.
In some cases, that behaviour might be incongruent with their personal values.
This can then become toxic for that individual.
It can affect their health (both mental and phsyical), their relationships, their behaviours. It can cause trauma.
A mismatched culture is inefficient to the org as a whole.
But it can be incredibly impactful on the individual who was missold a dream.
This is why Twitter isn’t toxic.
Musk is open with the reality – and that reality matches the promise. The walk matches the talk. (There’s a separate discussion about whether that culture actually achieves the strategy).
The question is: How many organisations claim to be Richard Branson, but are really Elon Musk?
