Pick your battles, your poison, don’t make any unnecessary enemies, get your words right, & have an exit plan.

"You have an ethical responsibility as a citizen to forthrightly confront creeping tyranny no matter where it occurs'" J. Peterson

Sound advice: my company I worked for of 13 years and family owned) was taken over this March by a vastly bigger corporation. The toxic pathology started from day one of the take over, with overt bullying and intimidation. Preparation before you go is key, and it is always wise to remember that once you have spoken out and defended yourself within this environment, you will be a managerial target. Corporations do not like strong, free willed souls.

My coworker just passed away from a massive heart attack a few days ago and the last things he said was that his job was stressing him out and the boss was bullying him.

The workplace can actually be hell on earth... Most important i feel is to stand up for yourself otherwise it can hurt you in ways that corrupt your whole life.

"Just say what you have to say" ..... straight to the point

"You've got to set yourself up so you've got mobility" that's basically a nice way of saying "always have some f**k you money".

This is great, 'you've got options' and "you've got a God dam duty"

It’s good to have something you OWN that pays you more than your job. I encourage those that are going through this in their workplace to just Start a Business. That’s what drove me to start mine. I’m in my early 20s and I refuse to live my adult life giving my time and energy to a place where I feel backstabbed and unappreciated.

I like the advise for being ready to move to another job. It's liberating to know you don't have to put up with crap. The only problem is it seems there is crap everywhere. Unhappy people are still unhappy when they are at work.

Don't underestimate the power of this video. It is the toolbox to endure and survive a hellish beacratic nightmare. Thank you Dr Peterson.

In the nursing field, confronting tyranny comes with a high risk of disownership from the group, depending on where the tyranny is coming from. Lateral violence is a solid thing in nursing.

Thank you Dr Peterson! I have done that to the bullies because they think they can put their load of shit on me in order to quit. I quitted now and receiving more decent salary than the average of them with less labour and hours.

I studied & trained in a profession that is 98% female. I was not welcome. The tutors treated me like I was there for some nefarious reason, then when I entered the job experience I was made to feel so unwelcome & uncomfortable that I had to give it up. I conducted myself with nothing but polite & professional behaviour, yet was still treated like I was there just to score phone numbers, yet I never once attempted to chat up a single female. The profession was vet nursing. I didn't care it didn't pay much, I wanted to help animals, but was made to feel like a perv. I am not some gross older bloke either. I was in my early 30's & above average in looks, well spoken, polite & respectful. At the time I had a long term girlfriend so was not interested in a single one of them anyway. It was obvious that as a male I simply was not welcome in this female dominated profession. So it's not just men who deal with sexism in certain industries. men just don't complain about it so you never hear stories like mine.

Thank you. I’m disgusted with my workplace. The management is so abusive. I spoke up about the abuse. They ruin your soul. I don’t understand how they continue on this way.

Dealing with this right now. My therapist says to stay silent and not do anything. This video makes me realize that staying put and staying silent might not be good options

This is exactly why I worked in 14 different positions over a 37 year career. Bullies and psychopaths seemed to be attracted to management positions. Fortunately I had a portable skill set. This is not always easy to attain and can take years. While you’re building that skill set, you might have to hunker down and put up with the toxicity.

Lots of tyranny does occur at mid level bureaucracy - I cannot agree more

Once you're targeted, you're out of a job. It's just a matter of time. You've nothing to lose by standing up. The best way to stand up is by showing the team that you're a strong, capable worker who is in every day and you set boundaries if people step too far. You have to persuade the team who are not being bullied to see that bullying is happening - that way they start to look for other jobs because they can't handle the atmosphere or feel they'll be bullied next. Once you resign you tell the team it was great working with them and you're upset it had to be a sad ending but your health and safety to do your job at stake. It's up to you what you feel is the case but I'm telling the truth. (Other people gossip like crazy, so they'll all know whose the bad apples deep down). Tell the others to take a stand if it happens to them and wish them the best. Persuade the team they've lost something valuable and the bullies will be completely disrespected by their team afterwards. Many leave whilst most often than not the bullies stay because they've no option.

I'm totally sure that the number of phsycos has increased tenfold in the last few years and it's not just young ones either,the older ones do it in the guise of "helping you".

Sensible people in corporations keep quiet for fear of being singled out as "troublemakers" and ending up losing their jobs, it's that simple. Management always wins.

How to know if pathological things are happening in the workplace: 1. If you're required to do things that make you feel weak and ashamed. wildly -Sensible people say nothing, when they should say something. -Prepare to find another job, a better job. Set yourself up so that you have a lateral move at hand 2. Are there things at work that are disturbing my soul? -Eliminate your own personal pathology. Are you stupid deceitful and lazy 3. If you're aimed at the good, take heart -Pick your poison tyranny or famine. 4. If you're being oppressed

Today I'm filing a harassment complaint with the EEOC. Tomorrow is my last day of work for a family owned business that assured me I would be safe from harassment and petty manipulation. I was harassed by an employee, told my two area managers what he had been doing and to please not leave me alone with him. One responded with a big display of solidarity with this creep the next day we all worked together. Told the day shift manager, the owner's 2 daughters, and the FOH manager. I messaged both of the owners separately that I no longer felt safe and had turned in my 2-week notice. I also requested a meeting with them. I heard nothing back, even when they came into work. They had plenty of opportunities to do a proper investigation. Harassment is hard to prove, but even if I don't win, this will send a clear message that it's their responsibility to protect their emoloyees and to train their management on sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

Workplace bullying and workplace mobbing that's when you got more than one person in the workplace attacking you, yes in a workplace I am at now it's extremely disturbing.

I once stood up about my workplace and how i was being treated unequal. Many of my co-workers agreed with my opinions and felt the same way. I felt prepared to talk, and was pretty much let go. There were plenty of suspicious patterns that felt targeted towards me. Once i spoke up, they sort of brushed it off and pretty much didn’t do anything.

At my last job I always spoke up an my supervisors hated it. It became increasingly pathological and I left. My current job values my opinion and uses it to locate pitfalls they may not be aware of

Before accepting a job position, try to identify whether or not the managers and 'superstars/all stars ' have any children or any type of real family life. If the answer no, then it's not even worth trying to work with that group if you have an inkling of interest in having your own family. Also be wary of saying you are fine with working in a group like that, and then eventually starting your own family- you will quickly become ostracized and be made into an outcast. It will be impossible to remain competitive in that type of group. Speaking from personal experience.

I'm very grateful to work in a healthy working environment

I stood up to my employer mandate, questioning legality and ethics and informed consent. I was targeted for my trouble and before I knew it, I was being Performance Managed, despite having the top Nr’s in my group. Being a sensitive, conscientious, perfectionist and hard working employee, it was devastating and traumatic to have trumped up performance charges thrown at me, and being gaslit while they insisted it had nothing to do with my opinions. I hung in for months hoping they were being honest and that if I just followed the “process” it would blow over. But they bullied me and destroyed my confidence and soul with an unjustifiable termination. We had to sell our home. It caused me almost 2 years of inconsolable grief and trauma, depression and then ptsd I wish I’d listened to the video before it all happened.

If you can't tell someone to go to hell, then you can't negotiate with them. And if they've got you over a barrel then you can't say anything.

If the boss is partaking, yes look for another job, and quick! The problem is: can we perpetually "look for other jobs"? Maybe confrontation takes practice?

I would advice that you should never speak to your bullies at work, because it will get even worse and you may snap and leave. So, just plan your exit and leave. Sometimes, it is a job after another that you find these toxic people around, are you really going to speak up every single time. I have done my part, and it made a HELL in my life, and it leaves big scars on every level.

Absolutely brilliant advice, not just for corporate environments. Some people love manipulating and gaslighting other people, and the reason they're successful? They choose their victims carefully! Don't be a victim, stand up for yourself and your values. Speak up and say your thing calmly and forcefully. Only then do these people back off, because their cowardice resides in seeking out people who have low self-esteem, the easy prey. Don't be easy, speak your truth and stand by it.

"...confront creeping tyranny no matter where it occurs..." Amen Dr. Peterson. Easier said than done, but a huge Amen.

This duty extends across society, to confront irrational and dogmatic behaviour. To uphold critical thinking. To promote better understanding among differing sections of the population, instead of groupthink leading to polarised one-sided opinions. And this applies to one's own home too. Family. Be bold wherever it is needed.

It’s so true, when your opinion means nothing, any ideas are absolutely not even a consideration, any improvement possibilities are looked at like mutiny against their rules. Teamwork is not allowed as it forms bonds in the workers. Workers bonding makes them nervous. This is where I work.

my day job took all of the fighting spirit out of me and decided that i couldn't speak my mind but another person (the favourite) could. being paid 7.5k less than someone else on the same level is depressing and demoralising.

“ You say the devil you know is likely better than the devil you don’t know - well don’t be so sure...Is this job making you weaker or making you stronger? ... If you are aimed at the good in life; take heart, you are stronger than you think....Whether your choice is between tyranny or famine - you have a choice...If the conditions of your workplace are oppressing you in your soul, you are an agent of your own destruction, and you are letting people who are weak and corrupt win...Not walking out is a complete psychological disintegration over time”..:JP paraphrased here, speaking good advice.. I am terrified to leave my “high salary”, 18 year long, pathological & unethical workplace; but taking heart at JP’s advice. I don’t need permission to be happy, and I can find a way out, just like I found a way in. God please give me the strength.

Precisely the reason I had to leave where I work. After 2 years of trying to negotiate to make things better, my boss refused to hear out anyone that disagreed with his policies and decisions. It became quite corrupt.

I think being a business owner is the only 100% way of never having to deal with crap from someone.

I read this comment somewhere that the purpose of making money etc is so that you can say no to people.

Here's a story: back in high school I used to do wrestling. Literally every night before a meet was always often a stressful endeavour. Thoughts of engagement, the tension from all those watching. However after a meet was always a deeply reflective and blissful experience. Some battles are worth fighting for.

I did say something. Turns out, the office bully & my boss were sleeping with each other, ganged up on me & got rid of me.

I am struggling with work stuff. I stumbled onto this video. No joke, but for me this is life changing! Thank you!

I was thinking today that maybe I am messed up because I do not allow injustices at work and maybe I should just go along to get along and accept the injustice. But then I thought of how we have been trained in schools to be compliant and not think for ourselves and this is likely the cause of most people not speaking up. I agree with Jordan that we have a duty to some extent as citizens.

I wish I had heard this talk 4 years ago.

This was probably the best video I’ve ever watched straight to the heart of the matter.

This is the old Peterson I used to like and admire. Thanks, this was helpful. Best advice yet. However, I am outspoken and did speak up. The bullies just double down and concocted a narrative that now they are the victims! And weak and corrupt people DO win. When one is outnumbered, time to leave.

Just got out of one of those, could have used my words better. But I'm so very happy to have seen myself grow stronger. Thank you for putting words to what I just experienced!

Unfortunately in my old company i was the only one that did waht you say. I was the only one that was saying something, and escalating to higher management, and i was the most knowledgeable engineer so i was confident that the management won't come to me and try to do something... But the other engineers didn't support me. And at first the problem was one manager (the gm of the regional office) then some of the orher managers left due to the toxic environment and politics that was going on and they were replaced by people who aren't knowledgeable but loyal to the first gm who started the toxic atmosphere... and it went worse... and there were 3 cases where they set up and fired people over mistakes they were making... I couldn't do anything coz i didn't have support from sensible people who didn't want to expose themselves and say something.... I left the company 1 year ago and since then almost all the team i worked with left the company... So i think that yhe advice you are giving is precious and that is the best way to face these situations.

Another GREAT resource on the subject is a piece titled The Hatchet Man's Playbook - a LOT of eye-popping, non-obvious stuff! Can't recommend it highly enough!

I'm not stupid, deceitful, or lazy. Quite the opposite. Today - 11 of my coworkers, including the manager, ALL worked to sabotage me - it didn't work - they all went home early - they expected me to quit, but no, DESTROY THE GUILTY LEST THE INNOCENT PAY - stand up for yourself.

That truth hit me in the face. Thank you

Fucking Peterson always knows what to do. Gotta love him

With Jordan Peterson on my side, I always heave a sigh of relief.......

This is gold man - thx JP.

Good talk!

I stood up and spoke out about some social issues in my work place. I got fired, went to jail, my family has made me an out cast, and my body is in knots because of all the stress. This has happened over a period of two years. I still believe what I said. My family is slowly coming back. My body is still stressed. I found another job. My legal problems are still present. Maybe in a year I will distress.

What if you are in a workplace where everyone is against you and has a hit on you where they are trying to stress you out to make you quit. They feel I got someone then they found out I did not but now they still have that animosity toward me. This is causing me tremendous stress

This was interesting to view, though standing up to these sort of scenarios takes more than a mere willingness to push back. You have to be very smart about it or you will be no match for a strong opponent. You need to be prepared, supported and to have an alternative if it all goes down hill fast. Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves when walking where angels fear to tread.

Bang-on, Dr. Peterson: Thank you so much for sharing this!!! :)

Thank you!

“Self respect “ Wize! Thanks 😊

this is what I needed to hear today

I just started a few months ago at a job with a 4/10 schedule, thought I hit the jackpot at first. It's a state job but a bureaucracy with red tape who hire less the desirable personalities because the job security makes everyone untouchable and you can't fire bad workers. Now, I'll be honest I met some good people but I work on a crew in a group setting and I have to be around the same people all day everyday and even lunch.. I enjoyed it for a while as we built a bond it seemed at first but it was too much interaction.. I slowly started feeling suffocated by childish behavior. 3 of them were intolerable after a few months, I need my own space for even just a few hours a day, I really just want to work alone but I was forced to be connected at the hip with any personality they hired.. these guys weren't horrible work ethic necessarily but definitely micromanaging and tried to play everyone else's work as means to make them feel less confident. I chose to work hard and create more of team work than a competition between us.. it always felt like a competition and them trying to find eachothers mistakes, backbiting, gossip, hostility. . i think these types a job are super negative after a while.

I worked at a school board (SD44 North Vancouver) where threats of violence for honesty and competence were so commonplace I had to resign. AFTER informing the union, management and HR. They tried to gaslight me, incriminate me in various ways, abuse me (HR especially) into submission. All the people who uttered threats are still there. Working around children. Management, HR and the union all know this. Lord help us all. The most damaging workplace I've ever encountered. And I've worked at other school boards. I left a review at Google. It was deleted. Why, I'm not sure. It was truthful. I can prove the above.

Thank you. I needed to hear that.

Thank You, I needed to hear that.🙏

Tyranny or famine. I picked famine.

Dr. Jordan Peterson 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Yes Peterson...✊ The most honest and valuable speech I ever heard about this topic it’s meaningful. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart 👍

I love this video man, the answer I needed.

Been there...done that...

The hard part is when your boss doesn’t listen to honest logic. The even harder part is when your boss says things just like that to you and to other people. The hardest part is when a dozen fellow subordinates all have similar words about her and the only person unwilling to come to terms with their own faults and mishaps is the owl demon boss and and the ones with the callused hands suffer for it. When you can’t figure out who the snake is, it’s time for you to bear that wisdom. You give me your money, your “knowledge,” all your secrets and I’ll pretend to love you for as long as it takes to hatch my escape plan because while you think I’m giving you a scaly hug, I’m just figuring out the best position I can strangle and subdue you in. Just like crisis before a womb, a ball of mud before a lotus, the good snake will get its way, motherfucker. Some people are bitches. Be like snake.

Strategic Battle"- Heard that!

Yes. I agree ☝️ also if you do not stand up for yourself or at least air your grievances you will make it a new normal for yourself and you will lessen your self worth to whatever degree you visualize or perceive the other person has you at ! It becomes a mix of imaginary torture and what’s actually going on that might set you over the edge. It’s always better to be seen as the honest person that is upfront and direct maybe to a fault than the week pushover with no self worth. There might even be a co worker you will help with your action that you might be actually saving! You never know

I once worked for a company which literally had a resistance movement. This gained considerable support after "games, poems, etc." were "banned before 5.30 PM".

Great advice, real assessment.

Excellent advice.

Even worse everyone is a mind reader who jumps to conclusions about what a person means with the things they say and everyone expects other people to be a mind reader and interpret words in the way you meant them. I always assume until seriously proven otherwise that people are *talking past eachother even if both parties are nodding sagely* to eachother.

I have been a facilities manager for 30 years for multifamily communities and I can tell you it's been Hell trying to stay sane especially when managing HOA's. This video should be played across the nation at every HOA community meeting in order to make the crowd understand that the on-site facilities manager is dealing with a Hell of lot of chit and just because he/she is more visible everyday doesn't mean you get to treat them like dirt. I wish I had come across this gentleman's wise words decades ago, it would have saved me a lot of grief. But eventually I came to the same conclusion. I speak up, and while I may still be polite, I make my opinion known and wear my emotions on my sleeve.

There is a huge problem with moving on to the next job workplace, we seem to think that the next workplace won't also have similar issues, workplace bullies are Narcassists sociopaths such people are on the rise, because they lack empathy and they are excellent liars expecially good at conning HR managers everywhere into believing they are the Right person to he hired there, thats how these creeps get in by conning managers and anyone neccasarry for there advancement unfortunately there is no way of knowing if the workplace your persuring is going to be any better than the one your escaping now, I mean seriously is there any questions one could ask during and interview to get a clue here? Its a problem, you leave one toxic workplace just to jump to toxic workplace number 2 or 3 and so forth.

Great Video...

I should have seen this video from the beginning to approach my positions with strength rather than fear.

It's our collective responsibility to stop tyranny

"Arguing is better than fighting... unless you want to fight." Not true. Sometimes, you don't want to fight. Sometimes, you WANT to do anything to avoid the fight. But sometimes you NEED to fight, and arguing is only delaying the inevitable.

I made my on notes and ideas based on this, I hope it helps others in revision. How to know you're in a pathological condition If you’re forced to do things that make you weak and ashamed. If things are going mildly out of control, you need to be ready before it’s chaotically out of control. Shut up and keep your head down is a good advice but what is the cost? Is it worth it? The reason why it will worsen is no one is stepping or even trying. Step 1 deal with it Be ready to find another job, especially a better one, you may not quit or change, but knowing there’s an alternative helps. You need this as a leverage for negotiation. When deal with obstacles, prepare lateral choices. Step 2 Look out for related variables Are you weak, deceitful, lazy? Or it’s something external? If it’s problems within yourself, then you can work on it immediately, if it’s external, you need to start to talk/prepare about it before it collapses. Step 2.1 Internal Choose who you are becoming. If you continue do things that make you weak, things will not change for the better, it is difficult to change, but if you try, there is hope. The worst case of toxicity is the collapse of body and mind, and that’s a bad price to pay. Problems that aren’t solved will multiply. If you fight, you need to have a clear goal, otherwise you’re not fighting to win. You’re fighting like a drunktard, there may not be an enemy but you’re still fighting. Step 2.2 external problems On external problems, look for allies, if there are other people with the same problem, then collect evidences and together you can work something on a case. If you step up towards corruption, make sure you have things in order, otherwise you’re just becoming something you never planned.

sounds like my workplace. thanks this is good advice

Serve your master

Preach Peterson! Amen.

It seems he is reconstructing young people's thought processes, to think more laterally and logically. People being wrong is in reality the opportunity to be right so never be afraid to listen, when truth is being spoken you'll know, it will ring in your ear as if your alarm clock was big ben.

I’m a 44 year old white woman with a Lpn in nursing. It’s been impossible to find work for me since I had children . Also Lpn can only work in nursing homes which basically you have to be black where I live. Nursing homes are black managed and have 100 black staff. As soon as I walk in the interview lasts 2 minutes. It’s obvious why. I’ve had head hunters and sent out daily 100’s of resumes even went in to hospital nursing homes only to be told apply online. I’ve applied for medical assistant jobs and even Starbucks jobs. I’m now working as a monitor in a public school . When I started the principal loved me now I have this new guy who follows me around my ENTIRE shift screams at me bangs onwalls like a maniac for no reason and targets me. I spoke to a lawyer he told me there’s nothing I can do . I’m devastated as I liked working with the kids. I’ve been skipping work to go in interviews for 6 months to no avail. If I quite I’ll be struggling but if I stay I’m afraid I might snap !

What makes you think you’re not selling your soul- Peterson 😳

YES!!!!!!! SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TOO PASSIVE!!!! If you aren't ready to quit and be fired every day then you won't make it in the corporate world!!! You have to be willing to say F YOU every day and walk out!

WELL SAID... But pathological stuff still goes on by entitled pathological people. They actually feel if they are not pathological then they are not doing their job.... Here is the thing to... sometimes you can tell a new guy the truth and it seems to him like you are being very pathological towards him... it is crazy systematic human behavior. The veteran employees feel the new guy could steal their job and the new guy gets "messed" with by some devious people...

Don't be a doormat.......speak your truth and let the chips fall where they may.

describes my sales career , i put up with my managers bs for ages. i didnt say anything because i knew my manager would go off the handle, then i cracked

awesome video

I tried all of this and nobody listened so I’ve done some professional exams and now I’m interviewing for new, better positions. I pushed back and won a few battles but I wasn’t nice company whilst I was doing it.

I’m not sure if this applies to my workplace or not. I have been there 4 months and it’s reputation in my town is of the best in the defense industry. I show up early, stay late, and do much more than I am paid for in my opinion. I am happy with my position and pay, but when I learned new things outside my job description and on my days off, people around me became resentful and began talking behind my back to the supervisors. They then essentially forced the supervisor to meet with me and the crew and suppress my ability to perform other functions when my primary work was low all the while smiling to my face and giving off the perception that I could trust them. I do not know what to do about it but I’ve decided not to let it effect my work drive and motivation to outperform my peers. Maybe someone here can weigh in on the situation? Thank you in advance.