Toxic positivity in the workplace. How to identify?

Many people still don't know what toxic positivity is, but today we're going to talk more about the subject in the workplace and what it can have as consequences for all employees.

What is toxic positivity?

Is there a point at which positivity stops being a good thing? Yes! And it’s called toxic positivity.

This idea refers to the belief that happy and positive thoughts should be above anything and everything, especially negative emotions.

With this type of thinking, it becomes easy to forget our feelings and repress negative emotions, putting ourselves in a dormant state as if everything is fine, when in reality it is not.

And in some cases it can come from within, that is, you yourself can always seem to be happy and repress your negative feelings.

But in other situations it can come from other people, a common example could be when someone is grieving and people insist that you get over it soon.

And in the work environment

And in the corporate environment it can also exist, whether coming from colleagues, leaders or the company's board of directors.

In this case, people put the idea and promote excessive positivity so that employees forget about pressure, stress and anxiety. Even making them feel like their feelings are not validated.

How to identify toxic positivity?

In the work environment or any other environment, we can notice signs that indicate toxic positivity. They can start out as something small and end up becoming routine.

Comparisons

Trying to compensate for something that bothers someone with something much worse can generate more frustration and sadness.

A very common example is someone saying that they are very stressed about work and receiving the response “But you don't even work as much as so-and-so”.

Positive mindset

It is natural for human beings to seek support, even if it sometimes takes time or is difficult.

But it’s not nice to open up to someone about a stressful situation in your personal or professional life and hear “Think on the positive side”, or “Be happy, this will pass”.

Ready-made sentences

Another thing that is not welcoming are the famous ready-made coach phrases, they are usually on the tip of the tongue, ready to be said at any moment.

And what are the consequences of toxic positivity?

And it is clear that these practices end up generating consequences, affecting the relationship between employees and their mental health, which can lead to burnout.

Speaking of positivity as problem solving, this toxic version can create difficulty in expressing your negative emotions, and even shame.

What can also happen is the silencing of emotions, making it more difficult for people to seek help and support in situations of need.

But perhaps one of the biggest consequences is invalidation, which makes people not feel entitled to have that feeling, and may even feel guilty for feeling bad.

When in reality, what we need most when experiencing a bad situation is learning to deal with the feeling and not bury it.