#53 - Projection vs. Gaslighting (and why your boss thinks you're LAZY when you're NOT)

Corporate Christie

Corporate Christie
#53 - Projection vs. Gaslighting (and why your boss thinks you're LAZY when you're NOT)
Sep 09, 2025
Christie Hoffman

Today we’re talking about projection — gaslighting’s ugly second cousin. You know, when someone accuses you of doing the very thing they’re guilty of. Fun, unhealed stuff, right? 

00:42 – “How are you, really?” (aka, are you dehydrated?)
02:32 – Projection vs. Gaslighting:
03:32 – Lazy boss calling you lazy?
04:18 – “You’re lying!” …says the liar.
05:05 – Why childhood trauma makes projection feel weirdly familiar
06:13 – Micromanaging boss
09:07 – Gossiping coworker accusing you of gossiping (make it make sense)
10:20 – Personal story
11:51 – Friend drama
16:40 – Signs you’re being projected on
17:10 – Grounding yourself
19:06 – The #1 rule
20:27 – Magic phrase
22:21 – Calm comebacks
24:27 – Journaling
25:06 – Documenting projection at work 
27:06 – Managers cause 70% of turnover — send those surveys!
33:31 – Journaling prompts that helped me stop the victim spiral
34:50 – 48 Laws of Power
36:46 – How I got burned in corporate 🔥
38:52 – Brilliance doesn’t always get promoted
40:14 – The garbage analogy

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⭐  The 48 Laws of Power - https://amzn.to/3KbuT48
⭐  Free Manager Survey Training - https://tinyurl.com/539zwm4c

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Episode Artwork #53 - Projection vs. Gaslighting (and why your boss thinks you're LAZY when you're NOT) 24:27 Episode Artwork #52 Anthony Hester: No Contact, Grief & Growth: Navigating Toxic Family Dynamics 1:06:42 Episode Artwork #51 - Ian Mai: ADHD, Going off Adderall, and the Messy Middle: Healing from Trauma and Burnout 1:15:01 Episode Artwork #50 – DARVO Explained: How to Stop Letting People Walk All Over You 20:56 Episode Artwork #49 - A Better Way of Doing Employee Benefits (w/ Amy Spurling, CEO of Compt) 33:56 Episode Artwork #48 - All-Hands, All-Wrong: The Company Meeting That’s Costing You 18:02 Episode Artwork #47 Hustle Culture Said Stick to the Plan. I Paid the Price. 9:39 Episode Artwork #46 - When My Body Said ‘No’: The Breakdown That Rewired Everything 16:48 Episode Artwork #45 - Why High Achievers Still Feel Empty (And How To Fix It) feat. Joseph Logan 48:12 Episode Artwork #44 - Don’t Fall for the Demo: HR Tech Buyer Tips 19:31 Episode Artwork #43 - Why You’re Not Getting Hired (And How to Fix It) 18:02 Episode Artwork #42 - How to Manage ADHD at Work (Without Burning Out) ft. Ian Mai 42:49 Episode Artwork #41 - Common Mistakes Managers Make (And How to Fix Them) ft. Katie Ceccarini 33:57 Episode Artwork #40 - The Career Development Mistake That’s Costing You Top Talent (ft. Julie Winkle Giulioni) 29:32 Episode Artwork #39 - HR vs. People Ops vs. Talent: Where Do You Actually Belong? 12:48 Episode Artwork #38 - The Mindset Shift Every HR Leader Needs (Stop Getting Your Feelings Hurt!) 9:49 Episode Artwork #37 - The Most Common Promotion Mistake (Superstars vs Rockstars) 12:56 Episode Artwork #36 - More Than Rules: How a Strong Employee Handbook Saves Time, Money, and Headaches (feat. Halisi Tambuzi) 28:04 Episode Artwork #35 - Simplify Hiring: Four Interviews Are All You Need! 8:46 Episode Artwork #34 - Avoid Working w/ Another Toxic CEO: Must-Ask HR Interview Questions 16:12 Episode Artwork #33 - Stop Making This Survey Mistake in HR! 12:41 Episode Artwork #32 - How HR Can Drive Business Growth (Scale Smarter!) Ft. Nahed Khairallah 37:29 Episode Artwork #31 - The Manager Survey Playbook (This is a Game-Changer!) 11:52 Episode Artwork #30 - Pulse Surveys: Your Swiss Army Knife for Employee Engagement 14:10 Episode Artwork #29 - Taming the Engagement Survey Dragon: Your Secret Weapon for Sanity (and Career Growth) 20:54