May 2024

How We Help YOU Reclaim Your Confidence and Voice

mental health, professionals, toxicworkspaces, wellbeing, work /

Working in a toxic work space can do more than just make your days unpleasant. It can erode your confidence, silence your voice, and make you doubt your worth. The constant stress, negativity, and lack of support can make you feel small and powerless. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We’re here to help you reclaim your lost sense of self. At Toxic Work Spaces, we understand the impact a toxic work space can have on your mental and emotional well-being. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive 10-session program to support you on this journey:  Discovery Session: We start with an initial discovery session to understand your unique situation, identify the specific challenges you’re facing, and set personalized goals for your journey. The Eight Core Sessions: Active Listening Session: In this session, you get to learn the power of active listening, both to others and to yourself, to improve communication and understand your needs. Identifying Negative Beliefs Session: We work with you to uncover and challenge the negative beliefs that have taken root, and begin the process of reshaping them. Rebuilding Self-Esteem Session: In this session, you get to rediscover your strengths, celebrate your achievements, and rebuild your self-esteem through guided exercises and reflection. Assertive Communication Session: In this session, we introduce you to main tools and techniques to assert yourself confidently, set boundaries, and express your needs and opinions clearly. Stress Management Session: After the end of this session, you get to develop strategies to manage stress and anxiety, fostering a healthier mindset even in toxic work spaces. Exploring Options Session: During this session, we assist you in exploring your options and developing a strategic exit plan, whether it’s finding a new job, pursuing further education, or starting a new venture or building your personal brand. Professional Track Guidance Session: In this session, you receive tailored advice and resources to help you navigate your professional path and achieve your career goals. Counseling Session: When you sign up for this 10-session package, you get to benefit from a dedicated counseling session focused on your mental and emotional well-being, ensuring you have the support you need. Post Follow-Up Session: After completing the core 10 sessions, we offer a follow-up session to review your progress, address any ongoing challenges, and adjust your plan as needed. Ongoing Support Strategy: We offer continuous support through our workshops, webinars, and peer support groups. Connect with other professionals who understand what you’re going through and gain strength from a community committed to positive change. Your journey to reclaiming your confidence and voice starts here with us. With our support, you can rediscover your true self and move towards a future where you feel valued and empowered. Reach out to us today and let’s start this transformative journey together admin@toxicworkspaces.com

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Discover Different Forms of Blue Mind

mental health, professionals, unplugged, wellbeing /

Today, professionals are increasingly finding themselves caught in a state we call ‘red mind’ – a frazzled, anxious, and over-stimulated condition that has sadly become the new normal. This state of constant connectivity and stress is not just detrimental to our productivity, but it takes a serious toll on our overall well-being. At Toxic Work Spaces, we understand the pressures of the modern workplace, especially those that come from toxic work spaces. That’s why we’ve developed a program called Unplug, designed specifically to help professionals unplug and rest. The inspiration behind Unplug comes from a powerful concept known as Blue Mind, which highlights the extraordinary benefits of being near, in, on, or under water. What is Blue Mind? Blue Mind is a term coined by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, referring to the meditative state that water induces in us. It’s the sense of calm, peace, unity, and a general happiness we feel around water. The concept advocates for the power of water to heal and restore balance in our lives, countering the effects of the relentless ‘red mind.’ While most of us are aware that stepping away from our work and digital devices can be beneficial, we might not fully appreciate that being near water is considered the ultimate form of nature therapy. Water’s therapeutic effects can significantly enhance our mental health, creativity, and overall well-being. The Benefits of Blue Mind Research has shown that being near water can: Lower stress and anxiety Enhance feelings of happiness and calm Improve focus and creativity Promote better sleep Foster a deeper connection to nature and to ourselves Introducing different Forms of Blue Mind in 23 Minutes a Day We believe that everyone can experience the benefits of Blue Mind, even with a busy schedule. Here are seven simple ways professionals can incorporate Blue Mind into their daily lives, with just 23 minutes a day: Wild Blue Mind: This can involve sitting near a pond, river, or even a fountain. The sound of water can set a peaceful tone for your day . Domestic Blue Mind: This can include: pools, tubs, showers, sprinklers, cold plunges and even your sink Virtual Water Meditation: Use a nature sounds app or YouTube videos of water scenes for a quick mental escape during the day. Evening Bath: End your day with a relaxing bath. The warm water can ease tension and prepare you for a good night’s sleep. Weekend Beach Trips: Plan short trips to the nearest beach, river, or lake. The change of scenery and water activities can be incredibly rejuvenating. Hydration Breaks: Take regular breaks to drink water. Hydration is crucial for maintaining focus and energy, and it also gives you a moment to step away from work. It makes perfect sense that a daily Blue Mind practice would work wonders. Once it becomes a habit, it’s second nature. It’s our home. It’s our refuge and sanctuary from an increasingly red-minded world.  Our Unplug program is designed to guide professionals in finding these moments of Blue Mind in their daily routines. We offer practical tips, guided meditations, retreats and community support to help you make water a healing part of your life. We invite you to join us in this journey towards better well-being. Let’s unplug, step away from the red mind, and immerse ourselves in the calming embrace of the Blue Mind. Because sometimes, the best way to navigate the turbulent waters of the workplace is to find serenity in the waters themselves. Embrace Blue Mind with us and discover how 23 minutes a day can transform your life.   

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Life In & After Leaving A Toxic Work Space Course

Leadership, mental health, professionals, toxicworkplace, toxicworkspaces, wellbeing, work /

The events caused by a Toxic Work Space contradict your understanding of how things at work are “supposed” to be. They end up disrupting your sense of self and how you view others. They disrupt your understanding of safety and condition you to believe you have no control over your life.  When any of the named experiences is triggered by another person, it ends up undermining a basic sense of trust in others; it makes intimacy challenging and eventually disrupts your own sense of self-worth and self-esteem.  This course is designed to help you cope in your present life right now if you are in a toxic work space and after leaving. I do not ask you to think about the experiences or get into the deep details. However, some of the exercises in this masterclass may trigger powerful and unpleasant memories and can leave you feeling overwhelmed.  One of the first tasks of this course is to teach you how to feel safe. This course is based on ideas developed by Shi Kang’ethe-the founder. It is as a result of a Toxic Work Spaces experience, research, and working extensively with toxic work spaces survivors. From experience, a toxic work space undermines the following basic needs: Safety Trust Control Value Closeness When these basic needs are met, we have a psychological cushion that helps us when stuff like stress happens. After you leave a toxic work space, the cushion feels like it’s gone and that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and with unhealthy coping mechanisms. This course is designed to help you cope in your present life right now if you are in a toxic work space and after leaving. We do not ask you to think about the experiences or get into the deep details. However, some of the exercises in this course may trigger powerful and unpleasant memories and can leave you feeling overwhelmed.  One of the first tasks of this course is to teach you how to feel safe. HOW THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED The long-term purpose of this course is to help you as a professional unpack your experiences at work, especially if it is a toxic work space and recover a sense of psychological safety, trust, self-esteem and connection-which may have been disrupted by experiences in a toxic work space.  The first three sessions of the masterclass give you essential information and skills you’ll need for all the sessions. The first three sessions are important because: You will understand that you were not at fault for what happened to you, even though you might even feel crazy You will unlearn, learn, and re-learn about different coping mechanisms and self-care strategies You will acquire the knowledge that will help you to do individual reflection on your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. It’s common for people who have left a toxic work space to feel crazy and this is not the feelings you had before you went through a toxic work space. Recognizing how your new and temporary thoughts, feelings or behaviors result from the experience can help you find your way back. In Session 1, Life After Leaving A Toxic Work Space, I take you through the experience that is a normal reaction. You will learn that your reactions are not uncommon for people who have been through a Toxic Work Experience. Session 2 takes you through ways of coping after leaving a Toxic Work Space. Shi help you do a SWOT analysis and visualize your coping mechanisms. In Session 3, you get to think things through, and explain how you can make sense of how your reactions changed. Sessions 4 through 8, are sessions that Shi will help you think through each of the five needs-trust, safety, control, self-esteem, and connection. In each of the sessions, Shi will prompt you to think about the meaning of the five needs. For example; What do we need to feel psychologically safe? What will it mean to trust again? (at a new job) Do I have control? Did I lose it? How can I take it back? What do we need when we need connection? The basic framework of this course has two main parts. The first is “How to think things through” and the second is “Weighing the Experience”. We have broken them down into forms and exercises to guide your thinking through each step. We designed this course because we believe that most of us need to heal from what we experienced after leaving a Toxic Work Space.  We also believe in healing and the work this course  invites you to do may be emotionally and mentally heavy so, we will constantly remind you to take breaks after some sessions, take care of yourself, rest and recharge before we proceed. If you’d like to take the course, get in touch with me….  

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Here’s how I assist leaders in managing toxic work spaces

Leadership, professionals, toxicworkplace, toxicworkspaces, wellbeing, work /

As the founder of Toxic Work Spaces, I’ve had the privilege of working directly with leaders to help them manage toxic work spaces and this blog post is a case study that highlights how I work with leaders to help them manage their work spaces, if they are in a couple of sessions. If you’d like a deep dive into the sessions with leaders on how they can manage toxic work spaces, find the breakdown below: Session 1: Understanding the Dynamics Our journey began with a deep dive into the dynamics of the workplace. Through candid discussions and interactive exercises, we explore the root causes of toxicity, from poor communication and lack of trust to unhealthy power dynamics and unchecked stress levels. By shedding light on these underlying issues, leaders gain a newfound awareness of the impact their actions and decisions have on the overall health of the organization. It is always a pivotal moment of realization that set the stage for meaningful change. Session 2: Building Empathetic Leadership Skills With a solid understanding of the challenges at hand, our next focus is on how to develop empathetic leadership skills. Through role-playing scenarios and real-world case studies, leaders learn how to cultivate trust, foster open communication, and address conflict in a constructive manner. One key expected takeaway from this session is the importance of active listening and empathy in building strong, cohesive teams. By putting themselves in their employees’ shoes, leaders can be able to gain invaluable insights into their needs, concerns, and aspirations. Session 3: Implementing Sustainable Solutions Equipped with newfound knowledge and skills, leaders are ready to take action. In our final session, we work together to develop and implement sustainable solutions to address the toxic dynamics in their work spaces. From establishing clear communication channels and setting boundaries to promoting a culture of accountability and resilience, leaders embrace a holistic approach to creating positive change. It is inspiring to see their commitment to fostering healthier, more inclusive work environments for their teams. As a leader, you learn that in just 3 short sessions with a 5 months follow-up plan, we witness a remarkable transformation unfolding. What begins as a group of leaders grappling with the complexities of toxic work spaces evolves into a cohesive team committed to driving positive change. Through introspection, education, and collaboration, these leaders not only learn how to manage their toxic work spaces but also how to cultivate environments where every individual can thrive. It’s a testament to the power of effective leadership in shaping the future of work—and a reminder that with dedication and determination, anything is possible. As we continue our mission at Toxic Work Spaces, we’re excited to see more leaders embrace this journey of transformation and create workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

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How we work with leaders to help them prevent toxic work spaces

Leadership, professionals, toxicworkspaces, work /

Today’s work spaces are demanding and the well-being of employees is vital. At Toxic Work Spaces, we are committed to equipping leaders with the tools and strategies needed to prevent and manage toxic work spaces and workplaces where mental health thrives. This year, our focus has been on exploring mental health in the workplace and empowering leaders to prevent and manage toxic work spaces effectively. Central to this mission is our dedication to preventing exposure to psychological risks and work-related mental health conditions through psychosocial risk management. Psychosocial risk management goes beyond traditional approaches to workplace wellness. It involves using organizational interventions to reshape working conditions, cultures, and relationships. We believe that by addressing the root causes of workplace toxicity, leaders can create environments where employees feel safe, valued, and supported. Through our training and consulting services, leaders will learn how to identify and mitigate potential sources of stress, conflict, and dissatisfaction in the workplace. From implementing flexible work arrangements to fostering open communication channels, our goal is to create a culture of psychological safety where employees can thrive. If you are a leader keen on preventing and managing toxic work spaces, we invite you to join us in prioritizing the well-being of your teams. 

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