The terms "woke" and "cancel culture" have become ubiquitous in recent years. Such descriptions are almost always politically charged and incendiary, especially when leveled in the workplace. However, if we lose the rhetoric and add some perspective, we can accurately classify and define these concepts as what they are: Postmodernism and moral relativism. In the most technical sense of the word, we are witnessing the birth of a religion that is quickly outpacing the growth of traditional worldviews in recent years.

Though some form of “cancel culture” has been part of the human experience since the beginning, and wielded by every tribe, political party, and religious group at some point or another, never before has it operated with such velocity and scale as it does with today’s technology and social media platforms. In today’s world, a word or phrase uttered in the morning that runs afoul of this ever-shifting, increasingly complex legalistic new morality can now destroy a person by that afternoon. In their rush to judgement, Postmodernists often forget to bring along any mercy, understanding, or forgiveness.

Leaders would do well to understand the origins, nature, and trajectory of Postmodernism if they are to protect their teams, organizations, and most importantly, themselves from the New Morality Mafia.