Friday 5 April 2013

Arrogance in the Workplace


image courtesy of Col6085 @ sxc.hu
Arrogance is a common problem in most workplaces, yet nothing seems to be being done about it. Everybody knows how an encounter with arrogance feels like, and it gets much worse if the arrogant individual is your boss or any other person in a position of authority. And if you occupy a low rung on the corporate ladder, your options are very limited. Most people in this position would opt to 'grin and  bear it', since voicing your opinion may result in a backlash from the arrogant superior. However, this means that you will have to endure the same treatment over and over again. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. 



Oftentimes, people mistakenly confuse arrogance with confidence. Here's how to tell the difference between the two:

Confidence is based on reality, while arrogance is based only on self-perception.

Confidence is simply an expression of a belief of ability based on reality. If you state that you are capable and have real-life results to prove it, then you are merely displaying confidence. Arrogance, on the other hand, tends to inflate one's capability without any demonstrable evidence of ability.

Confidence welcomes feedback; arrogance rejects it.

Confident people are not threatened by feedback from other people. They listen to what others say and they know how to self-analyze whether the feedback is valid or not. Arrogant people cannot bear to hear negative comments, and they usually treat these comments as personal attacks.

Confidence encourages learning; arrogance doesn't even acknowledge it needs it.

Confident people are brave enough to admit that they do not know everything. Arrogant people, on the other hand, always try to assume that they know everything.

Confidence inspires; arrogance demeans.

Confident people have the ability to inspire other people to develop themselves by offering encouragement and advice. Arrogant people make themselves feel important by putting down other people or their ideas.

Here is a snapshot of an arrogant individual:
1. Disparages other people or their ideas
2. Always claims to be more knowledgeable or superior to others
3. Avoids taking blame and/or pinning the blame on someone else
4. Avoids feedback like the plague

Basically, arrogance is a set of behaviors designed to cope with feelings of low self-confidence. It is a smokescreen to hide poor performance and a lack of competence. Arrogant people inflate their self-importance and ability in order to make others feel inferior.

Arrogance tends to cause stress and tension in the workplace, resulting in loss of morale for some employees and decreased productivity. Everyone agrees that this is bad for business. However, it is very difficult for managers in the organization to detect arrogance in the workplace because arrogant people can revise their behavior in the presence of superiors. They only exhibit these behaviors when they are with peers or subordinates. 

In 2012, psychologists from The University of Akron and the University of Michigan developed a tool to detect arrogance called Workplace Arrogance Scale (WARS). It is a set of 26 questions answered by the one being assessed and the people assessing him/her. The research team, led by Stanley Silverman, devised the questions in such a way that people do not know they are judging a socially undesirable trait, thus eliminating bias. Hopefully, WARS will become a standard addition to employee performance evaluations in the near future.

If you have something important to share about the subject of arrogance, please add your comment below. Thanks!

No comments:

Post a Comment