Ep 19 You Have the Right to Love Your Job

In this episode, I challenge the idea that workplace misery is normal. You have a right to fairness, respect, psychological safety, and meaningful work—but rights without responsibility are just complaints.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

The Three Essential Roles: Everyone plays these roles in creating workplace culture, regardless of job title

• Owner Role - Orienting energy toward both happiness and productivity
• Manager/Leader Role - Establishing expectations and protecting culture
• Producer Role - Bringing your best self to work daily

I share how a director transformed her team's energy by simply asking: "What's one thing you accomplished this past week, and what's one thing you're excited to work on next week?"

The Happiness-Productivity Matrix: A simple way to assess your workplace with four quadrants:

• Top Right (Sweet Spot): High happiness + High productivity
• Top Left (Unsustainable): High happiness + Low productivity
• Bottom Left (Danger Zone): Low happiness + Low productivity (toxic)
• Bottom Right (Burnout Zone): Low happiness + High productivity

Seven Strategies for Positive Change: Before considering an exit strategy, try these for 6-9 months:

1. Build relationships with change-minded colleagues
2. Focus on solutions, not complaints
3. Support claims with data, not emotions
4. Make small, specific proposals
5. Find allies in leadership
6. Document your efforts
7. Model desired behavior. 

Warning Signs of Toxic Workplaces: Watch for information hoarding, blame culture, inconsistent messaging, chronic overwhelm, gossip as a form of communication, a lack of psychological safety, and high turnover rates.

Resources Mentioned:

Creating Role Clarity resource - To get clear about your contribution

The Key Message: When we collectively raise standards and take responsibility for our contribution, workplaces transform. Your life energy deserves better than dysfunction.

To learn more about my services and for additional tools to enhance your leadership impact, visit ClaireLaughlin.com and connect with me on social channels @Claire Laughlin Consulting.

Until next time, lead the way!