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Toxic: A Guide to Rebuilding Respect and Tolerance in a Hostile Workplace
The workplace has become a hotbed of social toxicity – from the #MeToo movement to WeWork, it's clear that abusive bosses and entrenched cultures of discrimination have become more prevalent than ever. Such behaviour is not only simply wrong and damaging to its victims – it also results in reduced productivity, higher employee turnover, and can often leave a stain upon the wider reputation of an organization.
In Toxic, Clive Lewis draws upon his decades of experience in HR and mediation to distill the problems and underlying causes of toxic workplaces before tackling the issue head-on. He draws upon first-hand case studies from an eclectic array of workplaces (from corporate offices to hospitals) to demonstrate how toxicity can be both prevented and resolved. This is a practical guide for business leaders and HR professionals looking to preserve a peaceful workplace, while also providing tips for employees looking to remain productive and focused when working with troublesome colleagues in difficult environments.
In Toxic, Clive Lewis draws upon his decades of experience in HR and mediation to distill the problems and underlying causes of toxic workplaces before tackling the issue head-on. He draws upon first-hand case studies from an eclectic array of workplaces (from corporate offices to hospitals) to demonstrate how toxicity can be both prevented and resolved. This is a practical guide for business leaders and HR professionals looking to preserve a peaceful workplace, while also providing tips for employees looking to remain productive and focused when working with troublesome colleagues in difficult environments.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published April 20, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 22, 2022
I didn't realize till I came to write my review, just how many books there are about on Toxic Workplaces. So apologies in advance I can't really rank Lewis' Toxic compared to other books on the topic, but I'll do my best with an overall review.
In Toxic, Lewis finds a good balance between discussing issues, providing solutions and explaining the scope of the problem of toxic workplaces. In general there were some very powerful chapters particularly the ones looking at workplace civility, and also how to be a good 'Tackler' (e.g. addressing issues promptly but not OTT).
I did have a sense that I needed to have read Lewis' earlier book on Mediation to get the full impact of 'Toxic'. Also at times I found the use of examples a little rushed and ineffective - Lewis himself states that he has to maintain confidentiality, however at times the examples seemed overly vague - like I know its probably a little toxic of myself to want juicy details, but at the same time its useful to have some specifics and precision to help understand the points.
Also mildly disappointing but not game-changing was focus on the Myers-Briggs personality tests. Sure ever popular, but shown over and over again to not to have a robust evidence base. Given Lewis' qualifications I would have thought he would be aware of this.
All in all a worthwhile read, yes a couple of criticisms, but overall useful.
In Toxic, Lewis finds a good balance between discussing issues, providing solutions and explaining the scope of the problem of toxic workplaces. In general there were some very powerful chapters particularly the ones looking at workplace civility, and also how to be a good 'Tackler' (e.g. addressing issues promptly but not OTT).
I did have a sense that I needed to have read Lewis' earlier book on Mediation to get the full impact of 'Toxic'. Also at times I found the use of examples a little rushed and ineffective - Lewis himself states that he has to maintain confidentiality, however at times the examples seemed overly vague - like I know its probably a little toxic of myself to want juicy details, but at the same time its useful to have some specifics and precision to help understand the points.
Also mildly disappointing but not game-changing was focus on the Myers-Briggs personality tests. Sure ever popular, but shown over and over again to not to have a robust evidence base. Given Lewis' qualifications I would have thought he would be aware of this.
All in all a worthwhile read, yes a couple of criticisms, but overall useful.
February 7, 2022
A brilliant book to explore what a toxic workplace really consists of and solutions for all levels of management and employees to help resolve it. I have plenty more to learn but this book is a fantastic introduction to the topic. For someone more familiar with the topic I believe it would also be useful as there are many robust studies and other works cited that could be delved into.
February 15, 2022
The author quite fervently believes in the power of HR to solve all kinds of organizational issues and relationship issues within organizations. I’m not so sure but I do feel the wealth of experience he has and a number of his tips are worth reading, whether you are CEO, manager or employee.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews