Career Healing for Black Women Leaving Toxic Jobs

Let's be real: How many of us have felt that pit in our stomachs before walking into a meeting where we know we'll be the only POC? Or experienced the frustration of being mistaken for another WOC in the office? Or walked into work feeling confident and looking fly, all while bracing for the attempt to touch our hair or inevitable inappropriate comment? These aren't just "minor inconveniences." They're symptoms of larger issues that jeopardize our mental health, career trajectories, and sense of self. The stats paint a stark picture: - Black women make up a mere 1% of executives in S&P 500 companies. - Only a handful of WOC have raised significant venture capital funding. - We constantly battle what researchers call "double jeopardy"––facing harsher judgment for the same mistakes as our peers. But here's what I want you to remember: Your mental health is not negotiable. Your wellbeing is not a luxury. It's the foundation of your power, creativity, and ability to break through barriers every single week. So how do we protect ourselves without giving up on our ambitions? Here are seven strategies: 1. Know you can leave: Your talent deserves respect. 2. Find adaptive coping strategies: Manage stress and protect your mental health. 3. Keep building your support network: Seek out other WOC, join professional organizations, connect with mentors. 4. Plan your exit strategy: Know your options. 5. Document: Keep records of accomplishments and any inappropriate incidents. 6. Cultivate sponsors: Look for influential advocates for your career advancement. 7. Practice self-compassion: Give yourself grace and space. Remember, we're not merely surviving in these spaces––we're redefining them. Your presence matters. Your visibility is power. That's why I'm more convinced than ever that we need spaces to gather, heal, and strategize together. Spaces free from the White, male, mainstream gaze. Imagine a virtual sanctuary where you can: ✨ Process workplace challenges with other WOC who truly get it ✨ Learn strategies for maintaining mental health in challenging environments ✨ Access resources on recognizing and combating workplace bias ✨ Connect with coaches dedicated to uplifting women of color If this resonates, let's connect. Your experiences will shape this community into the supportive space we all deserve. Your mental health is your power source. Guard it fiercely, nurture it compassionately, and never be afraid to put it first. You are seen. You are valued. And you are so much more than the battles you face at work. Together, we can keep rewriting the narratives and building the inclusive work communities we deserve.

What I’m about to say is specifically for Black women and women of color: Stop saving the day. That constant “yes” to every request, every fire drill, and every additional task is not ambition. It’s survival. I hit a breaking point when I realized that my constant “yes” was burning me out. I was juggling too much, losing sight of why I loved my work, and feeling depleted. Therapy helped me understand the patterns I had been repeating and the ways I had tied my worth to my ability to endure. For way too many of us, the workplace has taught us that saying “yes” is the key to success, proof that we’re team players and worthy of recognition. And yes, that recognition feels great, but it’s not sustainable. The Black Women Thriving from Every Level Leadership report says that 88% of us are experiencing burnout often or always. Learning to say “no” wasn’t just self-preservation. It was liberation. I know firsthand how hard it is to break the cycle of over-delivering but trust me, it’s worth it. I share more about my journey with boundaries and how you can do life on your terms in my latest article for Fierce by Mitu:  https://lnkd.in/eKMZZWCC

"Black women aren't just doing their jobs. They're performing an exhausting one-woman show where the script changes daily." Let me break down what Black women navigate in professional spaces: We don't just choose our words. We filter them through a racial-gender matrix. We don't just speak. We modulate our tone to avoid the "angry" label. We don't just gesture. We control our hand movements to appear "non-threatening." We don't just dress. We calculate every outfit to seem "professional enough." We don't just style our hair. We make political decisions with each hairstyle. This isn't paranoia—it's strategic survival: When we speak directly, we're "aggressive" When we show emotion, we're "unprofessional" When we assert boundaries, we're "difficult" When we seek recognition, we're "entitled" When we express frustration, we're "hostile" The mental load is crushing: • Constantly scanning environments for potential hostility • Preparing responses to microaggressions before they happen • Developing thick skin while remaining "approachable" • Achieving twice as much while appearing humble • Advocating for ourselves without triggering stereotypes Research shows this hypervigilance takes a measurable toll: Black women experience higher rates of stress-related health conditions Black women report the highest levels of "bringing their full selves" to work Black women face the most severe career penalties for authentic self-expression Black women spend more mental energy on workplace navigation than any other group For those working alongside Black women, here are research-backed ways to help: 1. Amplify Black women's ideas and give proper credit 2. Interrupt when you witness tone-policing or stereotyping 3. Question double standards in evaluation and feedback 4. Create space for authentic expression without penalties 5. Recognise the invisible labour Black women perform daily 📢 When they expect us to carry the world, we choose rest 📢 The Black Woman's Rest Revolution offers: ✨ Black women therapists who understand workplace navigation ✨ Bi-weekly healing circles for processing code-switching fatigue ✨ Expert guidance through professional double standards ✨ Global sisterhood that honors our authentic selves Limited spots available Join our revolution: [Link in comments] ⚠️ Check your spam folder for confirmation Because we deserve workplaces where our expertise matters more than our tone. Because our brilliance shouldn't require constant repackaging. Because our professional value shouldn't depend on our likability. #BlackWomenAtWork #WorkplaceNavigation #ProfessionalAuthenticity #RestIsRevolution P.S. I help Black women heal from workplace abuse & racial trauma through revolutionary rest. 📸 Collaboration between Sarah_akinterwa & leaningorg on IG

This is HOW you recover from a toxic job (So many of you have asked me to cover this topic).   Save and study this cheat sheet. 10 steps you may need now, or in the future:   1. Find Closure ↳ Moving on from a job — toxic or not — is a grieving process, so give yourself time to process the loss. Consider writing a “goodbye” note (that you don’t send), deleting your work files, or shredding old documents as a ritual to release the experience and move on.   2. Take Control of What You Can ↳ Nobody deserves unfair treatment, bullying, or abuse, but self-blame often follows trauma. You might dwell on “what ifs” or feel shame. Rebuild your confidence with self-compassion and constructive actions like finding a better job.   3. Plan for Triggers ↳ Identify situations that could arise in a new job that will remind you of old stress reactions. Knowing your triggers lets you plan to deal with them.   4. Savour the Positive Moments ↳ Use techniques to focus on the positive experiences. Try spending 10 minutes a day reflecting on the enjoyable moments you had.   5. Take Time to Recover ↳ Leaving a job takes courage. Give yourself time to recover. Engage in activities that release tension and help your mind and body feel better. If you felt undervalued, find activities that remind you of your worth. If the job was physically demanding, be gentle with your body and seek medical help if needed.   6. Review What You Learned ↳ Reflect on why your previous workplace was harmful to avoid similar environments. Use this knowledge to guide future job choices.   7. Decide Who to Keep ↳ Maintain connections with positive and insightful colleagues. Let go of those who brought negativity to your workplace.   8. Decide on a Good Attitude ↳ Move forward with a positive attitude. Practice positivity and avoid gossip. Process bitterness on your own before making new connections.   9. Make a Plan ↳ Intentionally seek a healthy work environment using the knowledge you have gained. Set personal boundaries and evaluate your own professional behaviour and consider what you can influence in your next role. 10. Find Positive Influences and Mentors ↳ Seek mentors and positive leaders in your industry. Connect with supportive co-workers and foster a positive work culture.   ---   TLDR:   A toxic workplace is more likely to change you than you are to change it.  Embrace new beginnings, grow from past lessons, and seek positivity with every step forward.   Do you agree?   ♻️ Repost this to help others in your LinkedIn network And follow Rob Dance for more content like this!

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no magic wand 🪄 we can wave. Years ago, when I finally was able to move on from a toxic boss, I wish I had: ✨ Acknowledged the gaslighting & bullying I endured and not just raced ahead to the next chapter ✨ Journaled more to process my pain and not bury it ✨ Realized that triggers in future work situations would sometimes feel like a step back in healing & that’s ok ✨ Moved on sooner from individuals who thought I should have had tougher skin or dismissed the pain I was in ✨ Sought therapy rather than putting the burden to do the healing on my own And more ✨✨✨ There is no destination when it comes to healing. It’s a journey. We really underestimate the impact toxic bosses and workplaces can have on us. The hurt is real. And we are not broken. We are on our way to be healed. To reclaim those pieces of ourselves. To be healed to help others heal. 💜 How have you healed from a toxic work relationship? #inclusion #leadership #culture #MitaMallick

Let me tell you something most career coaches won't: surviving a toxic workplace can actually damage your future career prospects. I know that sounds harsh, but here's the reality - when you've worked under narcissistic leadership or in toxic environments, you develop survival behaviors that protect you in the moment but hold you back later. Here's what I see happening: You learned to stay invisible to avoid becoming a target. Now you struggle to self-advocate in healthy workplaces where visibility actually drives advancement. You developed defensive communication patterns because speaking up used to get you punished. But that same defensiveness now prevents you from having the confident conversations that move careers forward. You became risk-averse because taking initiative once meant facing retaliation. Now you're missing growth opportunities because you're still playing it safe. You internalized the message to "stay in your lane" so deeply that pursuing advancement feels wrong or dangerous. Your decision-making confidence got crushed under constant criticism. Now you're over-dependent on others' approval instead of trusting your own judgment. The good news? You can rewire these patterns. Your survival skills got you through hell - now it's time to turn them into advancement tools. The goal isn't just healing from workplace trauma. It's turning those hard-earned survival instincts into career superpowers. What's one survival behavior you're ready to transform into a growth strategy? Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #workplacerecovery #careeradvancement #professionalconfidence #careerstrategist

When I was in a toxic workplace, I had no idea what to do. My anxiety was through the roof and I lived in fight-or-flight. If I could go back and give myself a roadmap, this is what I’d say: 1. If you feel bullied, harassed or discriminated against, write it down - Record what happened, who was there and when. Keep it private. You might need to use it later.   2. Don't overshare at work - I’ve seen people vent to a “nice” colleague… who then ran straight to HR or their manager. Save the venting for people you trust. 3. Know your rights - I’ve had clients call me after they have resigned blind, only to realise they walked away from serious entitlements. Find out what you’re owed e.g. leave, notice, entitlements and whether you might have a claim. 4. Take care of your mental health - Toxic jobs take a toll. If you can, speak to a therapist or GP. Not just for support but to document the impact in case you need it for a workers compensation claim or formal complaint. 5. Quietly plan your next move - Look for jobs. Save what you can, even if it’s just a little each week. Options = freedom. 6. Tell someone you trust - Loop in one person who won’t judge or gaslight you. Just having someone say, “You’re not imagining this” can be life-changing. 7. Leave on your own terms – Not when you're completely burnt out. Not when they force your hand. When you decide. With a plan. With your head held high. ♻️ Repost this. Someone you know needs to read it. (Follow me Stefanie Costi, on Instagram @stefanie_costi or TikTok @stefaniecosti for more posts about a safer future of work.) #bullying #harassment #career #work #leadership #mentalhealth #wellbeing

Losing a Toxic job isn’t a loss. It’s a win. Walking away from a toxic workplace might feel scary. It might feel like you’ve failed. But the truth? It’s one of the greatest wins you’ll ever have. Because: - You’ve chosen you. - Your well-being. - Your mental health. - Your growth. Getting free opens the door to something better: - A job where you’re respected. - A workplace that values your voice. - A future filled with opportunities. Here’s how to reframe it as a win: 1. Give yourself credit for the decision. - What you did takes courage. - It shows you value yourself and your happiness. 2. Focus on your well-being. Take time to heal, breathe, and recharge. Toxic environments drain you. - Start filling yourself up again. 3. Write your next chapter. Think about what you want. What kind of workplace feels good to you? What skills do you want to explore next? 4. Surround yourself with positivity. - Connect with people who lift you up. - Share your story. You’re not alone. - Many will cheer for your courage. 5. Keep looking forward. - Leaving isn’t the end of your story. - It’s the start of a stronger, better you. 6. Start small. - Update your resume. - Reach out to someone who inspires you - Learn a skill that excites you. Every little step builds momentum. Choosing you is not selfish. It’s self-respect. Choosing growth that fits you is power. Choosing hard peace over easy toxicity is courage. --- P.S. – This image is copyrighted. Please ask for permission before using it. Repost ♻️ if you find this useful. Hit the 🔔 if you enjoy my content.