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WORK
An Open Letter to Friends Struggling with Toxic Management
They love code words. “Efficiency” means austerity. “Teamwork” means exploitation. “Negativity” means criticism. “Divisiveness” means resistance. They will not admit the possibility of constructive resistance or criticism.
They will use words like “transparency,” “communication,” and “freedom” as weapons and smoke screens. They favor secrecy, oppression, intimidation, and abuse.
They mock and ridicule the virtuous, whom they view as suckers and marks. Honesty, honor, and integrity are qualities they would like to appear to possess, but they will abandon them whenever they think it will give them an advantage or get them what they want. They don’t understand or recognize righteousness. They will assume that you are always motivated by selfishness. They will be confused and angry when you express concern for others, because it serves as a rebuke to their selfishness.
If you are courteous and sincere, they will think you are naïve and weak. They will be surprised when you show them that you are wise and strong, and they will resent you for defying their preconceptions about you. They will expect you to be as lazy, arrogant, spiteful, impulsive, and cruel as they are, and they will be confused when you are diligent, humble, forgiving, patient, and kind. This is…
