Surviving Work: Toxic Organizational Communication

In many ways, the modern workplace evolves at a staggering speed. Regardless of how an organization measures time (i.e., financial quarters or the more standard months of the year) factors such as new technologies, products and services, globalizing influences contribute to a dizzying, and oftentimes, downright confusing work environment. While this unpredictability impacts all organizational members, perhaps, due to relative newness to the professional arena experiences, it mostly befuddles millennials or other college-age individuals. Throughout all of these changes, however, knowledge of how to communicate effectively remains imperative for employees to survive, if not thrive on their professional journey.

Surviving Work: Toxic Organizational Communication is a text designed as a guidebook, of sorts, rooted in theory, but which also advises on what to do and what to say when you encounter sources of workplace dysfunctionality. Through the creation of this text we sought to provide students with a comprehensive overview of traditional, as well as cutting edge, communication breakdowns (we invoke the term “toxic” to reflect the pervasive and corrosive effects these communication phenomenon have on professional interactions). In order to most effectively appeal to a college age audience, the voice of this text draws upon many relevant, and easily relatable examples workplace toxicity. While we build a foundation upon traditional communication academic sources, we also include a variety of social media and web related content.

Instructors will appreciate the variety of online materials (activities, lecture notes, testing bank, etc.) which accompanies this book. Students will find its approach on modern workplace communication and relationships relatable, correct, and most importantly, applicable. This will be a textbook that will enjoy a space on their office bookshelf for years to come.