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Writer's pictureVictoria Scott

Managing Work Stress Part 5: Workplace Healthy Check

Updated: Feb 24, 2023

Victoria Scott here to talk to you about managing work stress. Today we're doing a health check of your work environment.

Level 2 (Fighter) is the dominant energy at most workplaces and that is a draining energy. Level 2 also blocks the benefits of the higher energy levels:

  • Building cooperation toward a common goal (Level 3: Tolerator)

  • Caring about other people (Level 4: Fixer)

  • Capitalizing on opportunities and learning (Level 5: Leader)

Just to name a few of the things that would help any workplace work at its absolute best.


No place is perfect but...


The bottom line is that I can give you a million tips on managing work stress

and none of it will help if you're not in a

healthy environment.


If you regularly go to your leader for support with positive outcomes, that's excellent.


If it's something you would never do because you know your leader would react badly or it's something that you would really have to work yourself up for, that's a really bad sign.


Many managers have the level 2 attitude that you're there to do things for them.


Real leaders know that it's their job to support you and help you succeed, to remove obstacles rather than create them.


People with a lot of level 4 helping energy who are working for level 2 leaders may spend a lot of time mulling over how to fix things. They may even blame themselves for their manager's bad actions.


Level 4 people with healthy boundaries know that it's not their place to fix anyone else. They also know that it's healthy to set boundaries for themselves and that it's actually

an act of self-care.


Everyone has an occasional bad day, but when

you're making new excuses for the same bad behavior on most days,

that's the reality of who that person is and

the behavior that your culture allows from leadership.


Here are a few other signs that your environment may be unhealthy. This isn't an all-inclusive list.

Signs of an Unhealthy Workplace: 1. You're uncomfortable asking your leader for support; 2. Your leader can't regulate their emotions and takes them out on others; 3. Your manager never checks in with you; 4. Information is withheld; 5. High fear and worry amongst colleagues; 6. Your manager is always right; 7. Your manager is very inconsistent - either hot or cold; 8. People aren't treated with respect; 9. Leadership frequently makes excuses for their behavior; 10. There's a lack of diversity, particularly at the top, in the ways people both look and think; 11. You are always overlooked for promotions and recognition; 12. Leadership justifies applying policy and expectations inconsistently; 13. What you need to do to get a promotion and/or salary increase is undefined or is changed once you meet it; 14. You don't feel safe using your voice and when you do, you aren't heard

Most unhealthy environments aren't all bad – that would be easy to spot! Bad environments and bad leaders can have good days too. That push and pull over time, that inconsistency can cause you to question your own judgment, can erode your confidence.


That just may be your sign that it's time to start looking for a new job. That's one of the things I help my clients with.


There's no scoring for this health check. You get to decide what you will tolerate, what's healthy for you.


I'm curious, what's one way your work environment could better support you?


Comment below or message me privately to share.


Stay tuned for my next message.

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