How have you functioned in a dysfunctional workplace? Part 2

<p>The conversations I’m posting yesterday and today were born out of the discussion: How should anger be expressed in the workplace? <a href='https://youtu.be/q8uPMUPGvgY'>https://youtu.be/q8uPMUPGvgY</a></p> <p> </p> <p>After we turned off the recording for that conversation the panel started talking about how hard it is to express anything in a dysfunctional workplace. We didn’t all have time to record again right then so we came back together to create this conversation.</p> <p> </p> <p>In this part of the conversation, I asked the panelists to share their stories.</p> <p> </p> <p>Claire Schwartz started us off talking about her time in the fast paced and often toxic environment of the legal and financial world in New York. Her advice was to get (good) advice and support and connect yourself to other grounded people.</p> <p> </p> <p>Laura Agafitei agreed with the idea of creating a community. She provided the toxic and abusive example of having worked as an admin. She was very open about why she stayed in that environment even though she had other options. She suggested finding others to help you validate that what is happening is toxic so you don’t just accept it as “normal.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Catarina von Maydell echoed what Laura said, adding that as hard as it is to hear, sometimes we have to recognize that we are complicit in allowing dysfunction in our lives because we have been taught to just “suck it up.” In her case she “loved” being in some of those dysfunctional, even abusive, environments because it was high powered, smart people and it was fun. But there was a lot of damage being done.</p> <p> </p> <p>After sharing some of my own journey I added what I believe to be the best thing anyone can do for themselves: you have to stop choosing dysfunction</p> <p> </p> <p>What tips do you have for functioning (keeping your sanity?) in a dysfunctional environment?</p> <p> </p> <p>You can watch the first half of this conversation here: <a href='https://youtu.be/1JG80Gt1MU8'>https://youtu.be/1JG80Gt1MU8</a></p