Gaslighting isn’t just something that happens in personal relationships—it thrives in corporate culture too. When done subtly, it can leave you second-guessing your instincts, doubting your performance, and wondering if you’re just imagining things. Spoiler alert: you’re not.
In many workplaces, gaslighting flies under the radar because it’s dressed up as “feedback,” “policy,” or “just part of the job.” But if something consistently feels off, it probably is. Here are 15 gaslighting tactics that are all too common in corporate environments.
15. “That’s not what I said.”
You remember the conversation clearly, but somehow your manager swears they never said that. Suddenly, you’re questioning your own memory instead of holding them accountable.
14. Constantly Moving the Goalposts
You meet the deadline, hit the target, and deliver the project—only for them to change the expectations after the fact. It’s an easy way to keep you feeling like you’re never quite good enough.
13. “You’re the only one who feels that way.”
Any concern you raise is brushed off as just your problem. It isolates you and makes you feel like you overreact, even when others agree privately.
12. Backhanded Praise
They give compliments that are secretly digs—like “You actually handled that pretty well” or “Wow, I didn’t expect you to pull that off.” It’s designed to keep you insecure while appearing supportive.
11. Rewriting History in Meetings
Suddenly, the timeline, decisions, or assignments you remember are being reimagined to fit someone else’s narrative. It’s not about accuracy—it’s about control.
10. “You’re too sensitive.”
Any emotional reaction to mistreatment is dismissed as a personal flaw. This shuts down valid feedback by turning it into a character judgment.
9. Withholding Important Information
They “forget” to loop you in on key details, then act like you dropped the ball. It’s a setup that makes you feel incompetent for something that wasn’t your fault.
8. Subtle Undermining in Front of Others
They casually correct you in meetings or joke at your expense to chip away at your credibility. It’s cloaked in humor or professionalism, but the intent is crystal clear.
7. Making You the Scapegoat
When things go wrong, somehow it always lands on you. Even if you had nothing to do with it, they spin the story to protect themselves.
6. Acting Like You’re Lucky to Have a Job
Any pushback is met with a reminder that you could be replaced. It’s designed to keep you quiet and compliant, no matter how unfair things get.
5. Gaslighting Through Performance Reviews
You consistently get vague or inconsistent feedback that contradicts everything you’ve been told. It’s hard to improve when the bar keeps moving and no one will tell you where it actually is.
4. Discrediting Your Emotions
They act like you’re being “dramatic” or “emotional” anytime you bring up a concern. It’s a tactic to shut you down without addressing the actual issue.
3. Reframing Overwork as a “Growth Opportunity”
You’re drowning in tasks, but they keep spinning it as a chance to “shine.” If you burn out, well, that’s just on you for not being “resilient.”
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2. Public Praise, Private Criticism
They build you up in front of others but tear you down behind closed doors. It keeps you off balance and unsure of where you really stand.
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1. Making You Doubt Your Instincts
Above all, gaslighting works by eroding your confidence in your own judgment. The more you second-guess yourself, the easier you are to manipulate.
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