Curative Culture: Stepping Away From a Toxic Workplace

Everybody knows what the phrase "toxic workplace" means. Nearly all of us have experienced the pain, frustration, and humiliation it carries. Author Douglas K. Shaw asks the question, "Why isn't there a one-word antonym for "toxic?" He decides to name, define and apply a one-word antonym for a "toxic" workplace culture in this hopeful book of wisdom, values, and humanity-filled stories.Having grown up in the natural beauty of Washington State, Shaw draws parallels between the healing attributes of nature and the core values that define a workplace where both leaders and followers can recover from the scars left by the "the brambles of toxicity."In a curative culture, coworkers live in relation to Imago Dei, the image of God. As such, every co-worker is seen as having high value, first, as a human being, and then as a productive member of a work community. This perspective suggests that leaders and aspiring leaders, must answer the question, "Do I really want my employees to succeed... even coworkers that I do not like?"Coworkers bring their own questions about their colleagues too: "Do I trust them and their intentions?"Do I respect them?""Are they safe?"