Gaslighting in the Workplace: Recognizing and Addressing Psychological Manipulation
Written by Beverly Beuermann-King
info@worksmartlivesmart.com
Gaslighting In Action
As leaders and HR professionals, it is your duty to create a positive and productive work environment. One significant but often overlooked threat to workplace harmony is gaslighting. This psychological manipulation tactic can erode trust, undermine confidence, and damage mental health. Understanding gaslighting and how to address it is crucial in fostering a healthy work culture.
Consider this scenario: Sarah, a project manager, consistently receives contradictory instructions from her supervisor, Mike. When she seeks clarification, Mike denies ever giving the previous instructions and criticizes her for not paying attention. Over time, Sarah begins to doubt her memory and competence. Mike’s repeated denials and criticisms erode her confidence, making her more dependent on him for guidance and less likely to question his authority.
Defining Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse where the abuser manipulates the victim into questioning their own reality, memory, or perceptions. The term originates from the 1938 play “Gaslight,” in which a husband attempts to convince his wife that she is losing her mind to cover up his criminal activities. In a workplace context, gaslighting can lead to employees doubting their abilities and experiences, ultimately affecting their performance and well-being.
Reasons Behind Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic often employed by individuals for various underlying reasons. Understanding why a person gaslights can help in addressing the behaviour and mitigating its impact. Here are some common motivations behind gaslighting:
Power and Control
Reason: Gaslighters seek to dominate and exert control over others. By causing their victims to doubt their own perceptions and judgment, they can manipulate situations to their advantage.
Avoidance of Responsibility
Reason: Gaslighters often use this tactic to deflect blame and avoid taking responsibility for their actions. It can shift focus away from their own misdeeds and place the blame on the victim, protecting themselves from accountability.
Projection of Insecurities
Reason: Gaslighters may project their own insecurities, fears, or flaws onto others thus maintaining a façade of competence or superiority.
Manipulation for Personal Gain
Reason: Gaslighting can be a strategic move to achieve specific goals, such as career advancement, financial gain, or social standing. By undermining the confidence and credibility of others, gaslighters can create opportunities for themselves to advance or gain favor, often at the expense of their victims.
Emotional or Psychological Issues
Reason: Some gaslighters may have underlying psychological or emotional issues, such as narcissistic personality disorder or sociopathic tendencies. These individuals may lack empathy and use manipulation as a means to fulfill their emotional needs or to validate their self-worth.
Learned Behaviour
Reason: Gaslighting can be a learned behaviour from past experiences or relationships. Individuals who have witnessed or been subjected to manipulative behaviour may adopt similar tactics as a way to cope or exert influence in their own relationships.
Understanding these motivations can help leaders and HR professionals recognize the signs of gaslighting and take appropriate actions to address and mitigate its effects in the workplace.
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How Gaslighting Manifests in the Workplace
Gaslighting can manifest in various ways in the workplace, including:
Denying Events: Supervisors or colleagues may deny that specific conversations or events took place, despite evidence or witnesses.
Misleading Information: Providing false information or distorting the truth to make the victim doubt their memory or judgment.
Undermining Confidence: Constantly belittling or dismissing the victim’s ideas, contributions, or achievements.
Manipulative Behaviours: Withholding important information, giving contradictory instructions, or isolating the victim.
Projecting Blame: Accusing the victim of mistakes or failures that were not their fault.
Common Gaslighting Phrases
Gaslighters use specific phrases to sow doubt and confusion. Recognizing these phrases can help identify gaslighting behaviour:
“You’re too sensitive.” Minimizing the victim’s feelings to make them feel irrational or overly emotional.
“I’m sorry you think that I hurt you.” Deflecting responsibility and blaming the victim for their feelings.
“You should have known how I would react.” Shifting blame onto the victim for the abuser’s behaviour.
“You’re acting crazy — and other people think so, too.” Manipulating the victim into questioning their sanity and isolating them from others.
“How could you think that is what I meant – no one else thought that?” Denying the intent and isolating the victim by suggesting that others share the gaslighter’s view, making the victim feel alone and unsupported.
“That never happened.” Denying abusive actions or words to make the victim question their memory.
“You have a terrible memory.” Making the victim doubt their recollection of events.
“You’re imagining things.” This phrase is used to make the victim doubt their own perceptions and to suggest that their experiences or concerns are not real.
“It’s your fault that this happened.” Shifting blame onto the victim to avoid taking responsibility and to make them feel guilty or responsible for negative outcomes.
“You’re overreacting.” Minimizing the victim’s feelings and reactions, suggesting that they are irrational or exaggerated.
“I never said that.” Accusing the victim of lying or fabricating events to make them question their own honesty and reality.
“You’re just being paranoid.” Dismissing the victim’s legitimate concerns by labeling them as irrational fears.
“Why are you always so negative?” Shifting focus from the issue at hand to the victim’s supposed negativity, making them feel bad for expressing their feelings.
“No one else would put up with you.” Undermining the victim’s self-worth by suggesting that they are unlikable or difficult, increasing their dependence on the abuser.
“You’re just trying to confuse me.” Turning the tables by accusing the victim of the very tactic the gaslighter is using, creating further confusion and doubt.
Strategies to Deal with Gaslighting
Dealing with gaslighting in the workplace requires a proactive and strategic approach. Here are five specific strategies and phrases to use:
Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of conversations, emails, and interactions. Documentation can help establish a clear timeline and provide evidence of gaslighting behaviour.
Example Phrase: “Let me take notes on our discussion so I can ensure I have everything correct.”
Seek Support: Reach out to trusted colleagues, mentors, or HR professionals. Sharing your experiences can provide validation and help you gain perspective.
Example Phrase: “Can we discuss a situation I’m experiencing? I value your opinion and need some guidance.”
Assert Your Reality: Firmly state your perspective without being confrontational. Reaffirming your reality can counteract the gaslighter’s manipulation.
Example Phrase: “I remember the conversation differently. Let’s review the details together.”
Set Boundaries: Clearly communicate your boundaries and the consequences of violating them. Consistently enforcing boundaries can reduce the gaslighter’s control.
Example Phrase: “I’m not comfortable with how this conversation is going. Let’s take a break and revisit it later.”
Self-Care and Professional Help: Prioritize your mental health and seek professional support if needed. Therapy can provide coping strategies and reinforce your sense of reality.
Example Phrase: “I need to take some time to reflect on this. I’ll get back to you after I’ve had a chance to process.”
Here are four strategies that leaders can implement when dealing with an employee who utilizes gaslighting:
Address the Behaviour Directly
Strategy: Confront the gaslighter privately and clearly describe the problematic behaviour, providing specific examples.
Implementation: Use a calm and assertive tone, and focus on the behaviour rather than making personal attacks. Outline the impact of their actions on the team and the workplace.
Set Clear Boundaries and Consequences
Strategy: Establish firm boundaries and communicate the consequences of continued gaslighting behaviour.
Implementation: Implement a formal performance improvement plan (PIP) that includes specific behavioural expectations, regular check-ins, and potential disciplinary actions if the behaviour does not change.
Provide Training and Support
Strategy: Offer training on workplace ethics, communication, and emotional intelligence to promote a positive work environment and discourage manipulative behaviours.
Implementation: Arrange for workshops or seminars led by experts in workplace psychology and provide resources for employees to develop healthier communication skills.
Foster a Supportive Work Environment
Strategy: Create an open and supportive culture where employees feel safe to report gaslighting and other forms of abuse without fear of retaliation.
Implementation: Implement an anonymous reporting system, encourage regular feedback, and ensure that HR is actively involved in addressing and resolving conflicts. Promote team-building activities and open communication to strengthen trust among employees.
By implementing these strategies, leaders can effectively address gaslighting behaviour, protect their employees, and maintain a healthy and productive work environment.
Gaslighting is a destructive behaviour that can have severe implications in the workplace. By understanding its manifestations, recognizing common phrases, and employing specific strategies to address it, you can create a safer, more supportive work environment. Leaders must remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and addressing gaslighting. Empowering employees to speak up and providing a robust support system can significantly mitigate the impact of this harmful behaviour. Ultimately, fostering a transparent and respectful workplace culture not only enhances productivity but also ensures the mental and emotional well-being of all employees.
Written by Beverly Beuermann-King
info@worksmartlivesmart.com
