Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1464088
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 63 THE EFFECTS OF A PRIOR TOXIC WORKPLACE CULTURE My prior exploration of impostor syndrome also excluded an acknowledgment of a person's experience in the workforce. If you've ever experienced abuse or discrimination in a workplace, of course that could affect your confidence and belief in your skills in future jobs. Women and members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities have experienced disproportionate levels of harmful behaviors from superiors and colleagues in the workplace. These experiences are sometimes subtle and slow-building, and the effects can be long-lasting. Increased self-doubt and a feeling of "not belonging" are natural responses to years or decades of being undermined, undervalued, and intentionally excluded in work environments. In "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter [sic] Syndrome," authors Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey point out that workplace norms are rooted in the leadership and communication styles of heterosexual white men. 1 Any behaviors outside those norms are discouraged. That type of culture takes a deep toll on anyone who doesn't work, think, or behave in that way. Ultimately, we have to answer the questions, "Is it impostor syndrome or good judgment?" and "Is it impostor syndrome, or am I having a normal response to past discrimination, microaggressions, and toxic workplace culture?" As my state reopened with a handful of rules and restrictions, I watched even more colleagues blatantly ignore the new safety protocols, again believing they were better informed with their 500–1,000 hours of massage school training than the epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists who helped create the protocols. I am also aware that these issues were, and still are, much worse in other areas of the country. At the same time, there were plenty of practitioners who took a pause and learned as much as they could about safety. They stayed on top of information as it emerged and evolved, and went back to work as allowed, creating the safest possible environment for their clients. What was the difference between these two groups? Ego. Those who followed the rules were willing to step back and acknowledge their own limitations in scope and education. They were more self-aware— able to interpret their actions, feelings, and thoughts objectively. I don't know how this haphazard approach to care at the beginning of a pandemic could have been avoided or how it can be solved in the future. I don't know how we can sort out the "need a boost in confidence" massage therapists from the "could use a talking to about ego" massage therapists. But I cringe thinking that anyone used my ideas for conquering impostor syndrome to puff themselves up and ignore the guidance of actual experts during a global health crisis. To check one's ego and judgment, it's helpful to ask a series of questions such as: • Is this just nerves? • Would a trusted instructor or mentor encourage me to attend this event, take on this project, or use this technique on this client? • Do I have the necessary education, credentialing, and licensing to practice my trade or this technique? • Does sharing this opinion or information violate my scope of practice? • Are there credible sources to support the information I'm sharing? It's much harder to navigate issues of belonging that come from awful workplace experiences. Help from a mental health- care provider, community groups, career coaches who specialize in discrimination and workplace trauma, or a great circle of colleagues and mentors may be in order. In both cases, I think most massage therapists are uniquely qualified to step back and notice how we feel in our bodies and minds. By taking the time to sort through our feelings, we can begin to root out the source of our reactions and view our choices objectively. Growth as a massage therapist and business owner can only come from this kind of thoughtful personal work, which can only serve to improve our care and contributions to the profession and the communities we serve. Note 1. Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey, Harvard Business Review, "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome," February 11, 2011, www.hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they- have-imposter-syndrome. Allissa Haines is a busy massage therapist and amateur chaos gardener. She runs a small massage practice in Massachusetts and partners with Michael Reynolds at Massage Business Blueprint to help her colleagues get more clients, make more money, and improve their quality of life. Learn more at massagebusinessblueprint.com. Massage therapists are uniquely qualified to step back and notice how we feel in our bodies and minds. By taking the time to sort through our feelings, we can begin to root out the source of our reactions and view our choices objectively.