Almost everyone longs for health, some of the most unhealthy people long for emotional and physical health and the peace of mind that it brings.  If you’ve ever watched the TV series Biggest Loser you can quickly see this, some of the most unhealthy people go on that show, striving for the health they desperately need. They seem trapped inside a body and mind of dysfunction.

This same thing can happen to us in our work, we can find ourselves inside an unhealthy team or company. We may even realize that our behavior is contributing to its sickness.

Here are 7 strategies for improving the health of your team and company for those who are not in leadership.  There are other strategies for leaders but first non-leaders.

1. Don’t gossip about leadership – there is nothing more discouraging than a team grumbling team members, I learned this at an experience at church, even if you are right just communicate up then zip it, put your head down and work hard.
2. Don’t spread rumors – rumors destroy morale, don’t purposely destroy morale in the place that is your livelihood, that is like biting the hand that feeds you.
3. Be a problem solver – seek out problems and attack them, especially the problems that your boss has.  For the problems that are not in your power to control, don’t spend too much time stressing about them, instead focus on the ones that are potentially within your power to control.
4. Pursue leadership – if you can see and you care about toxic and unhealthy situations in your team or company, chances are you can help to bring change, and you will be better able to influence a change if you have more influence as a leader. Prepare yourself to lead and then volunteer to lead.
5. Help those being bullied – If you find yourself in a toxic team or company chances are someone is being or was recently treated unfairly, help them by sticking up for them or even by just being a friend and helping them to get perspective.
6. Accept your situation – if you find yourself in a toxic environment and you are not a leader, realize that your situation is not fair, it is frustrating, but that is pretty average, accept your responsibility for where you are and do what you can to better yourself.
7. Set a time limit – toxic situations at work can get better or they can get worse. Try to get in a place of influence or even leadership by good behavior, building relationships and by leadership training. If that is not possible then I recommend you set a time limit beyond which you plan to move on to another team or to another place of employment, if at all possible.

What other ways can non-leaders improve the health of their teams?