In a blog post titled Positive Relationships in The Workplace (2013) by Mental Health America (MHA), Policy and Programs Manager Michele Hellebuyke stated, “employees will interact more with their colleagues than loved ones.”
She continued by saying, “Negative or toxic relationships in the workplace can increase stress levels among employees, as well as feelings of isolation. Both stress and isolation negatively impact employees’ mental and physical health, lowering employee morale and motivation.”
The fact remains, employees struggle to minimize the risk of interactions that lead to bitter experiences with co-workers. Instead of creating a positive work culture, employees are prone to harbor toxic attitudes and behaviors that can lead to poor mental health.
MHA Numbers
MHA is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit. The blog post also referenced a Work Health Survey of 17,000 employees who showed that:
63% of employees experienced isolation because of a hostile work environment
63% stated that work stress negatively affected their mental and physical health
71% reported speaking poorly about the organization, boss, and co-workers
The MHA numbers prove that the workplace is a hotbed for negative interactions among co-workers. Michele Hellebuyke’s blog post provided suggestions on how organizations can foster positive interactions, but it failed to mention that Purpose Deficit Disorders (PDD) is the number one threat against workplace relationships.
The Unseen Enemy
PDD is a disease that prevents employees from adding value to co-workers. When left untreated, employees will have a high risk for negative interactions with co-workers which can undermine healthy relationships.
Even worse, the presence of PDD among co-workers will also increase the risk of unconscious biases that undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The best unconscious bias training in the world does very little to minimize the threat of PDD. It is a disease that promotes negative interactions among employees, but most organizations treat the symptoms of PDD without treating the disease itself.
Instead of improving diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, employees are left with weak spots that lead to:
Disrespect for differences
Unfair treatment
Isolation because of exclusive attitudes and behaviors
Building a PDI Smart™ Workplace
Most organizations take great pride in hiring the smartest and most capable talent. Unfortunately, employees can be job smart and not interaction smart. Employees who are smart at performing their job will not automatically translate into outsmarting deficiencies that prevent your workforce from creating a culture of togetherness.
Employees who struggle to become a better version of themselves to add value to others will have a high risk for misrepresenting your brand. They will create a culture where other employees might like working for your organization, but the presence of PDD will cause them to hate who they are working with.
Purpose Development™ is the future of work and employees who are not highly developed in purpose will remain a high risk for toxic interactions that minimize the value of co-workers. - PDI Smart™ Thought
Building a PDI Smart™ Workplace is the gold standard for bringing your workforce together. It is the only solution for minimizing the risk of PDD to equip employees to be on the cutting-edge of removing toxic attitudes and behaviors from your culture.
Now your organization can have the best of both worlds when it comes to talent. Continue to hire employees who are smart at what they do and train your workforce to outsmart toxic interactions with co-workers.
Adopt our Gold Standard for bringing your workforce together and create a Green Culture™ where employees can:
Practice Zero Errors in Purpose to increase positive interactions
Engage in interactions that promote mental wellness at work
Deconstruct biases that undermine togetherness
And more...
Click Here to schedule a free Discovery Call on how to build a PDI Smart™ Workplace.