“Ma, I am tired. This place is toxic. I haven’t felt happy going to the office in months. I don’t want to work there anymore. The pressure is too much… and for what?”
I receive calls like this frequently, especially from young professionals navigating early career growth, workplace stress, and questions about purpose.
As an organisational communication consultant, corporate trainer, and life coach, I advise both employees and employers. I see workplace tension from both perspectives — and often, what appears to be workplace toxicity may sometimes be unmanaged workplace pressure.
The distinction matters.
Workplace Toxicity vs. Workplace Pressure
Let’s begin with clarity:
Perseverance does not mean tolerating abuse.
True workplace toxicity involves:
- Persistent disrespect
- Psychological unsafety
- Manipulation or bullying
- Chronic breakdown in leadership communication
That requires intervention and sometimes exit. However, workplace pressure is different. It may involve:
- Performance expectations
- Economic strain
- Skill gaps
- High accountability environments
Pressure, when healthy, can drive professional resilience, emotional intelligence, and competence development. The key question is this:
Is your environment destructive or developmental?
Understanding that difference is critical to making strategic career decisions.
Before You Resign: A Career Strategy Framework
If you are experiencing burnout or dissatisfaction, pause before making an emotional decision.
Ask yourself:
- Have I clearly defined the core issue?
- Have I documented specific incidents?
- Have I requested structured feedback from leadership?
- Have I strengthened my measurable value within the organisation?
- Is this truly workplace toxicity or a demanding season?
These questions shift you from reaction to strategy.
This is where career growth meets professional maturity.
The Employer’s Perspective: Leadership Under Economic Pressure
From the employer’s standpoint, workplace culture is influenced by economic realities:
- Are revenues stable?
- Are operational overheads increasing?
- Is every team member contributing to sustainable growth?
- Are leaders equipped with strong leadership communication skills?
Employees deserve fair compensation and healthy workplace culture. Yet many business leaders operate under financial and performance pressure that employees may not see.
This does not justify poor leadership behaviour. But it explains why organisational communication often breaks down under stress.
Organisations are simply groups of imperfect individuals attempting to achieve shared goals. The question becomes:
Can we build alignment despite imperfection?
This is the core of employee engagement, sustainable workplace culture, and leadership development.
Strategy Before Exit
One of my late mentors, Akin Olawore, once said:
“Efforts are nothing if the core (results) remains unachieved; rewards can surpass efforts if the goal is achieved and well done.”
That insight reframed my understanding of performance, contribution, and reward.
To young professionals navigating workplace pressure:
There are seasons to walk away.
But there are also seasons to build leverage.
If you must leave, leave strategically not emotionally.
- Strengthen competence.
- Improve measurable results.
- Secure clarity.
- Build professional resilience.
Then move. That is strategic career management.
A Word to Employers and Leaders
Today’s workforce prioritises psychological safety, transparency, and meaningful work. Leadership communication must evolve. Clear expectations, structured feedback systems, and empathy are no longer optional. They are competitive advantages.
Strong workplace culture reduces burnout, improves employee engagement, and strengthens long-term performance outcomes.
As I reflected on these conversations, this passage came to mind, and it’s for both parties:
2 Peter 1:5–7 (KJV)
“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
Growth is layered.
Resilience is layered.
Character is layered.
Professional development rarely happens in comfort zones. It often happens under tension. If this season feels heavy, it may be building capacity you cannot yet see.
For those navigating growth under pressure, my novel OBEDIENCE EDGE explores leadership formation, discipline, and becoming through adversity.
It is currently available for free download here:
https://selar.com/m/berylconsults
To every professional navigating uncertainty, I say ‘JISIKE’.
Be strong.
Be strategic.
Grow wisely.
Does this make sense to you?
BERYL CONSULTS 