Understanding and Combatting Three Toxic Tactics in the Workplace…Scapegoating, Gaslighting, and Professional Bullying
by Dr. Benjamin M. Drury
In toxic work environments, several destructive tactics often come into play, exacerbating the overall toxicity.
Personally, I see evidence of three primary tactics being used against myself and my colleagues as we attempt to navigate what began as a “merger” and is manifesting into a more insidious form of colonialism intended to relegate students of color into “workforce” roles.
First, scapegoating, a prevalent strategy, involves deflecting blame onto others to evade responsibility or protect one’s reputation. Second, gaslighting, another insidious tactic, manipulates information flow and memory to control narratives and undermine the credibility of others. Finally, professional bullying, although more subtle, can have profound effects on morale and productivity.
Scapegoating
People in powerful positions believe in operationalizing a practice known as scapegoating to escape or elude blame for problems they are responsible for…
