The negative impact of pointing fingers indirectly

"Just after Sushant Singh Rajput - a famous Bollywood actor's death news -, there have been allegations against many Bollywood bigwigs, contending their indirect involvement in Sushant’s decision of his alleged suicide. One further inclusion in that list came as a surprise - Rajeev Masand, a famous film critic. The allegation on Rajeev Masand is about a blind article on a film actor, who is supposedly Sushant, alleging to be a rapist. Even though Rajeev Masand did not point at Sushant in his post, he indirectly referred to him through a series of events that suggested Sushant. It is so well referred that maximum readers guessed Sushant after reading the article.

The point here is, it is not just Rajeev Masand, it is a general strategy followed by everyone in talking about issues they are not completely aware of or for which evidence cannot be proved. Of course, this strategy also forms the basis for the majority of gossips and rumors spreading negativity in one’s environment.

How many times have you seen this in Office environments?

This is how fingers are pointed indirectly, a common practice in offices for a variety of reasons

A) In spite of not working together, employees talk negatively about their colleagues. As they cannot prove about the allegations on a future date, they do not discuss the issue/allegation with their seniors or their colleague but talk about them indirectly.

B) Many employees have concerns against their seniors, which are commonly discussed indirectly

C) Some employees cannot express their concerns related to their colleagues, who are very dominant.

Appreciate in public and criticize in private. The latter is easier said than done. As a result, we tend to slip in these issues in group meetings, or casual discussions with seniors/HR. Some times, we talk about these issues with our friends by taking names too. Overall, these conversations are perceived in different contexts and create gossips and rumors, leading to negativity among the employees.

Yes, the first employee can always escape from the issue saying that they never alleged the latter one; but the negativity surrounding them cannot be escaped. When an employee practices this approach as a general strategy to express his concerns, misunderstandings, it becomes a bigger problem. In spite of defending himself every time that he never alleged anyone or hurt anyone; the negativity surrounding him shows otherwise through his gestures or tone.

Being assertive could be a solution or at least a good try for resolution; even though discussing the issue with the concerned person brings in negativity yet it is a plausible approach. Following indirect approaches only aggravates the situation, moreover, that is hardly the case where you can discuss the solutions which would bring in peace for both the parties, can you?"