1. WECON2019
Having the
Tough
Conversation
How to Advocate for
Yourself to Break Toxic
Workplace Cycles

2. Samantha Schak
Senior Project Manager
Handsome
Melanie Dyer
LPC-Intern
Therapy Austin
About Us

3. Overview
Toxicity and the Effects
Identifying the Issues
Effective Teams
Preparing to Confront
Talk Structure
Next Steps

4. What
does
toxicity
look like?
Harassment in all its forms
Lack of advocacy and protection
No transparency
Unethical business practices
Fear & shame based management
Unfair expectation of job
performance
Lack of fair compensation

5. The Toxicity Effect
How does it harm the business & team?
The Workplace
The Individual
Toxic workplaces cultures lead to higher turnover,
higher sick leave, less quality output, lower
productivity, and potentially, the close of a
business.
Works may experience physical and mental health
issues, problems in professional and personal
relationships, and projection of toxic behaviors,
"PEOPLE DON'T
LEAVE JOBS,
THEY LEAVE
TOXIC WORK
CULTURES."
Dr. Amina Aisti-Selmi

6. Hierarchy of
Employee Needs
Project Aristotle
Google researchers first look at what
makes a great manager and applied a
similar method to discover the secrets of
effective teams at Google. The goal was
to answer the question: “What makes a
team effective at Google?”
Collab Space Central Pitch Deck

7. HOW DO I KNOW?
3
Consult Your Tribe
Talk to your friends, mentors,
and external peers.
1
Define the Culture
Where are the overlaps with
your values?
4
Start Documenting
When you see something,
document something.
2
Self Check-In
Are you feeling good? Are
you sleeping?

8. Collab Space Central Pitch Deck
I'd like to do something,
where do I start?
Getting Ready for the Tough Conversation

9. Preparing
Yourself
Collect the Data
Review your job description
Employee manual
Who can you go to?
Contract Rights
Texas Employee Rights

10. THE TOUGH
CONVERSATION
BASICS Who needs to be there?
Where and how will it happen?
What are you looking to get
out of it?
Why are you meeting?

11. VALIDATE
Diffuse defensiveness by
showing a mutual respect
GET CURIOUS
Can you help me
understand [blank]?
PERSONAL
STORIES
Connect by saying
"I see...I feel..."
STRUCTURE THE TALK

12. Practice!
Turn to the person next to you and try the "structure."

13. Cold Reception
This does not
have to be the end
of the conversation.
Think of your other
avenues within the
organization.
Warm Reception
What needs to
happen tomorrow?
What needs to happen
in 6 months? What
is your personal
responsibility?

14. EXIT STRATEGY
Consult with team members who have been there
Are these solvable or persistent problems?
Always keep an eye on new opportunities
Avoid the "golden handcuffs" and start saving
Use your experience to test values of a potential
new job
Knowing When
to Ditch Your Gig

15. Separating from Toxicity
What can you do right now?
Self-Care
Joyful movement. Sleep.
Mental health services.
Toxicity Outside Work
Take stock in all your
relationships and behaviors
Spread the Word
Follow your values.
Become an advocate.

16. "You are enough. You always
have been and you always will
be. Your needs are not too
much."
Adam MacDonald, LCSW
Photo by Rachel Hammond

17. Thank You!
@considercast
considertherapy@gmail.com
@considertherapy