Life of E's

How in the world do toxic work environments get started? Is it just one thing or is it a 'perfect storm.' Two areas to be aware of if you are working to keep your academic work environment positive and productive are language and fear. Language When kids would tease me in school, my mom would [...]

Tags: academic, attitude, boss, co-workers, fear, interactions, language, professor, toxic, words, work environment

There are days that I label "Pantihose Days" and then there are the days that I've finally found a new name for:  "Garanimals Days."     The difference is this (if you can't already picture it): Pantihose days are those days where I'm doing a workshop, teaching a seminar, presenting a keynote, or doing some high-level [...]

Tags: attire, garanimal, pajamas, pantihose, professional, relax, suit, teleseminars, work, work environment, workshops

Can you be damaged by working in a toxic academic environment? As you’re answering this question, know that by toxic, I don’t mean chemicals, asbestos, and the like. Toxic, as we will use it in this article, is defined as hostile, stress-filled, mean-spirited, cold, exclusionary places. If you have never been to a college or [...]

Tags: Productivity, work, work environment

Have you ever thought (or experienced) the following scenario (or some semblance of it)?  The places we live and work are sometimes obstacles to our living and working. My office has tissue paper walls – I hear EVERYTHING that goes on around me. There is no privacy and no uninterrupted time. This is often due [...]

Tags: distractions, Productivity, work, work environment

Toxic academic work environments are defined by many attributes including the following: The length of time it’s been continuing Length of time The first attribute to consider is ‘length of time’ that the unpleasantness has been going on. When you experience a day where it just seems like everybody is just biting each other’s heads [...]

Tags: Academic Ladder, Gina Hiatt, toxic, work environment

E-Workshop:  Your Boss is NOT Your Mother Anytime, Anyplace (You Download It) Are you tired of all of the drama, stress, and conflict making your life difficult at work? What many people may not realize is that we have a tendency to replicate unhealthy family coping patterns when confronted with workplace stress. In this eWorkshop, [...]

Tags: boss, family patterns, mother, work environment, workplace