Cynicism and sarcasm seek to avoid emotional contribution.

“Sarcasm” comes from greek “sarkazeh”, “to tear flesh”. Cheap way to get out of contributing—defense to prevent exposure of other defenses. Antidote is to pursue clarity, be direct without hiding fears, and cultivate hope by staying on a path toward a goal. In a team, reward clarity and emphasize hope.rB1


  1. Brené Brown, Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts (New York: Random House, 2018). (See notes.)