Sarcasm is really not appropriate in the professional world: microaggressions continued

“The term microaggression was used by Columbia professor Derald Sue to refer to “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color”; in my opinion as an educator, it can also be gender slights or people trying to establish or maintain superiority.

Enter the world of sarcasm.

According to Merriam Webster:

1.   a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain

2.  a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual

It often gets used, sometimes unconsciously, and we are all guilty of it at some point in our lives; and I use the word guilty on purpose because most people do not like being on the receiving end of sarcasm, especially in the professional world.

 With the global audience and workforce that we have today, you have no idea how such sarcasm will be received, especially when people are talking about a serious subject. It is even worse when it is a superior directing it at a subordinate because it shows a certain lack of appreciation for that person.

So, if you are the sarcastic type of boss, you might want to re-examine your leadership style because that probably explains why so many if your staff seem mad at you.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam