Understanding Workplace Toxicity: A Journey of Self-Reflection and Objective Evaluation

Abang Edwin Syarif Agustin
4 min readJul 29, 2024
Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash

In the bustling world of modern workplaces, the word “toxic” gets thrown around like confetti at a New Year’s Eve party. But before we slap that label on every office we step into, it might be time to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Could it be that the toxicity we perceive is, in fact, a reflection of our own attitudes and behaviors?

Let’s dive into the murky waters of workplace dynamics with a few enlightening tales that might just make us think twice before crying “toxic!”

The Job-Hopping Harbinger

Meet Sarah, a bright-eyed marketing whiz with a resume as long as a CVS receipt. Every few months, Sarah would pack up her desk, citing yet another “toxic workplace” as her reason for leaving. Her LinkedIn profile became a graveyard of short-lived positions, each one apparently more poisonous than the last.

It wasn’t until her fifth job in three years that a wise mentor, over a steaming cup of coffee, gently suggested, “Sarah, have you considered that you might be the common denominator in all these situations?” The question hit Sarah like a ton of bricks. Could she be the toxic one? This moment of clarity sparked a journey of self-reflection that ultimately transformed Sarah’s career trajectory and…

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Abang Edwin Syarif Agustin
Abang Edwin Syarif Agustin

Written by Abang Edwin Syarif Agustin

Observer, Content Creator, Blogger (Obviously), Ghostwriter, Design Thinker, Trainer and also Lecturer for Product Design Dept at Podomoro University

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