Work & Life lessons from 2024 - part 2

Lesson 2: You can experience the same work environment differently than someone else and neither of you are wrong. 

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Picture this: you’re venting to a coworker about how toxic your work environment is and they’re empathetic, but you don’t feel like they understand.

And maybe they’re even trying to talk you out of how toxic the work environment is. 

Are they gaslighting you? Maybe, but probably not. 

Chances are, their experience at work has been (and is) different that yours for a variety of reasons.

This happened to me in a previous job and it left me feeling confused. 

It made me question what I was experiencing. 

And I stayed longer in the job because I had convinced myself that it wasn’t that bad. 

Now, looking back I can see how bad it was. It was worse than I thought.

Reflecting on my experiences, the challenges I was experiencing are clear.

But it’s so hard to see when you’re in it sometimes. And even harder when your coworkers aren’t having the same experience. 

So why are they not having the same experience?

➡️Their role & responsibilities are different so they don’t experience the same challenges

➡️They’re in denial and can’t see the toxicity themselves

➡️They’re treated differently (better) by leadership AKA favoritism

➡️They have had different experiences in the past that contribute to their interpretation of the current environment

➡️Their tolerance for workplace challenges is higher

➡️They’re overly invested in their work

➡️and more!!

Has this ever happened to you?

Do you and your coworkers experience your work environment the same or differently? Drop a comment and let me know!