Trusting Your Gut at Work: What It’s Really Telling You

Have you ever had a quiet inner nudge that something just isn’t right at work?

A gut feeling you can’t explain, but you can’t ignore either?

That inner voice is worth listening to.

Especially when you’re working in a toxic environment, it can be hard to separate what’s actually happening from what’s been normalized. This is where your gut becomes your guide, not to make rash decisions, but to invite honest reflection.

Whether it’s the pit in your stomach before Monday meetings, the sleepless nights replaying difficult conversations, or the growing sense that you’re no longer showing up as your best self, these are signs worth paying attention to.

But here’s the twist: Your gut might not be saying “leave now.” It might be saying “something needs to change.”

Three Ways to Trust Your Gut (In a Dysfunctional Workplace)

Here are three questions to help you interpret your gut instincts when you’re feeling off at work:

1. Am I reacting out of fear, or responding with clarity?

Sometimes what feels like intuition is really anxiety or past experiences resurfacing. Pause and ask: Am I grounded in the present, or triggered by something old?

2. Is my inner voice nudging me toward growth or escape?

One of the most powerful questions you can ask is: “Is there something I’m meant to learn here?” For some, this means setting stronger boundaries, speaking up more confidently, or learning how not to take others’ behavior personally. This story might help.

3. What support do I need to make a healthy decision?

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Whether it’s therapy, coaching, or a trusted mentor, support helps you separate what’s yours to grow through from what’s no longer serving you.

When Your Gut Tells You Something Needs to Change…

Trusting your gut doesn’t always mean making a dramatic exit.
Sometimes, it means making an internal shift first.

I want to acknowledge that not everyone should stay in a toxic workplace. You may decide that leaving or enduring is what’s best for your health and well-being. And that’s valid.

But for some, there is a third option: Stay, and grow.

It may not be easy. It may not be popular.
But it could be the most transformative decision you ever make.

Whatever you decide, leave, stay and endure, or stay and grow, make the choice that honors your well-being.

You deserve that.