Stockholm Syndrome, But Make It Corporate: Why You’re Still at That Job You Secretly Despise!

Last week, while coaching one of my clients, we hit an incredible breakthrough—a true eureka moment. Together, we uncovered the hidden block that had been dimming her brilliance—and just like that, she was ready to shine like the diamond she truly is!

Imagine this: you're in a long-term relationship. It started off hot—free coffee, a cool office, maybe even a beanbag chair or two. You were smitten. But now? You're burned out, underpaid, micromanaged by someone who quotes “Shark Tank and People First” unironically—and yet… you stay. Why?

Welcome to Corporate Stockholm Syndrome—where you start empathizing with your captor aka employer and convince yourself that staying in a toxic workplace is somehow noble, or worse, “realistic” and the “norm”…

Key Indicators You Might Be Suffering From Workplace Stockholm Syndrome:

1. You Celebrate Crumbs:
   “My boss let me leave at 6:00 today! I love it here!”
   If you’re applauding basic labor rights like a toddler discovering gravity, red flag.

2. You Say Things Like:
   “Well, every job sucks,” or “At least I know how to handle this chaos.”
   Translation: I’m traumatized, but I’ve learned the rhythm of the abuse.

3. You're Scared of the Outside World:
   You fantasize about quitting, then immediately start thinking you’re not sure where you’d go.

4. You Think Leaving = Failure:
   You feel loyal to a company that would replace you with a sentient vending machine if it could reduce overhead.

5. You've Stopped Dreaming:
   You used to have ideas. Now your goal is surviving until Friday. Barely.

Why Do We Stay?

• Fear of the Unknown: Better the demon you know than the HR portal you don’t.

• Financial Anxiety: Health insurance is held hostage like a medieval dowry.

• Low Self-Worth: Long-term exposure to bad leadership makes you think you’re the problem.

• Corporate Gaslighting: “We’re like a family,” they say. Yeah, the Manson kind.

Mental Warm-Ups to Escape the Clutches:

1. Play the “What If It Works Out?” Game
   Instead of rehearsing failure, dare to imagine: what if the next job respects you and your lunch break?

2. Build an Exit Narrative, Not an Apology
   “I’m looking for growth” sounds way better than “I hate it here and they stole my soul.” Even if both are true.

3. Create a Mini Plan (With Snacks)
   Update your resume, research companies that don’t require blood sacrifices, and reward yourself with chocolate for every step. You’re training your brain to associate “escape” with “delight.”

4. Talk to the Freeloaders in Your Head
   You know those voices that whisper, “You’ll never get another job”? Ask them: “Based on what data?” Then ghost them like a bad Tinder match.

5. Reclaim Your Agency
   You are not a cog. You are not a seat-filler. You are a person with potential, and yes, LinkedIn does have some real jobs buried under the crypto bros and yes, work your network!

Final Thought:

Leaving a job isn’t betrayal. It’s evolution. And no, your toxic boss doesn’t need two weeks’ notice of your happiness.

So, if you’re sitting at your desk reading this on your second screen or your mobile—take a breath, take a step, and remember: your dream job won’t kidnap you.

It’ll hire you on purpose!

Comments welcomed, as always!

MC