"Pretentious" employees in the office

Over the past two years, global employers have become familiar with the concept of “quiet quitting,” or the phenomenon of rejecting a culture of burnout and prioritizing work-life balance.

However, in contrast to this group of people are "loud laborers" - a name coined by André Spicer, professor of organizational behavior at the Bayes School of Business (University of London).

According to Nicole Price, an office and leadership training expert, “show-offs” often use various methods to promote themselves, talking more about what they are doing or planning to do than actually doing the work.

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There are two ways to tell if someone is a “show person.” First, you don’t see them getting much done and they talk too much about what they’re doing. Second, they appear to be politically savvy and are active on social media to show off their accomplishments.

Vicki Salemi, career expert at job portal Monster.com, explains how to differentiate between a confident professional and a “show-off.” A truly competent and confident person will choose the right time to speak up and highlight their work. A loud person shows a hunger for attention and shows off all the time, even when it’s nothing special, just a routine task.

Price explains that some people talk too much about themselves because they lack confidence or feel insecure. Additionally, some people are motivated by recognition and external rewards rather than satisfaction with the work itself. This leads them to focus on self-promotion.

Salemi points out that “pretentious employees” may feel the need to constantly praise themselves because they don’t get recognition from their peers or bosses. Or they may be so confident in themselves that they brag about it, which is not the right behavior.

The behavior of “showrunners” can have a negative impact on their teams and even their careers, experts say. What’s more, a 2021 study found that these people create disconnects within teams. They create an environment that values ​​attendance and self-promotion over actual results, which demotivates employees who are already quiet and uncommunicative. Over time, this leads to an atmosphere of competition rather than collaboration.

“Pretenders” are annoying, so it’s important to set boundaries. If you’re a team leader, you can “stop” them in meetings by announcing a time limit and getting straight to the point. To get to the root of the problem, Price says, leaders should make sure that every team member is evaluated on the quality of their work. This will encourage everyone to focus and help recognize the efforts of the quiet workers.

Experts suggest ways for leaders to deal with "pretending employees" in the office.

Recognition of efforts

Often, it's the quiet, unobtrusive work that keeps a business going. Leaders need to filter out the noise and recognize the contributions of those who don't make the effort. This will create a culture that values ​​productivity and results, not showmanship.

Understanding different working styles

Some people tend to be more flamboyant about their work, while others are quieter and more focused on the task at hand. A good leader should value and acknowledge both approaches because they contribute to a diverse and effective team.

Communication and feedback

If you notice a team member constantly bragging, talk to them. Giving constructive feedback will help them find the balance between "polishing" themselves and being productive. This will benefit not only the individual but the team as a whole.

According to VnExpress