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'Busy bragging' is the latest toxic workplace trait to watch out for

Stressed to impress

Q and A with Ellie Cole

In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to have a jam-packed schedule. But, as new research reveals, bragging about how little free time we have could be rubbing our colleagues the wrong way. 

Boasting about how inundated you are at work might appear to convey professionalism and dedication to the job, but it can actually have the opposite effect, experts say.

Employees who “stress brag,” or “busy brag,” are more likely to be perceived as less likeable – and less competent – by their colleagues, per a study published in the journal “Personnel Psychology.”

Unfortunately, the point-scoring phenomenon – call it performative anxiety – has become all too common in the corporate world.

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“This is a behaviour we’ve all seen, and we all might be guilty of at some point,” said Jessica Rodell, the study’s head author and a professor of management at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business in Athens, Georgia.

“When I was wondering about why people do this, I thought maybe we are talking about our stress because we want to prove we’re good enough,” she said.

To test the effect of stress-bragging, 360 participants were tasked with analysing statements from imaginary colleagues who had come back from a conference.

Some coworkers gushed about how much they enjoyed the conference while the busy bragger griped about how it was just “one more thing” on their plate.

“I was already stressed to the max … you have no idea the stress that I am under,” read the made-up response.

Interestingly, colleagues were less likely to help busy braggers, per the study. Image: Pexels
Interestingly, colleagues were less likely to help busy braggers, per the study. Image: Pexels

In general, survey participants deemed the corporate worrywart both less likable and competent than their more positive counterparts.

Worse still, respondents paradoxically felt less inclined to help the braggadocious stress balls, seemingly defeating the purpose of boasting about busyness.

“People are harming themselves by doing this thing they think is going to make them look better to their colleagues,” said Rodell.

Unfortunately, work stress is infectious, the research showed.

As a follow-up study, Rodell and her team questioned 218 real-life workers about the busy braggers at work, finding that professionals subjected to this busy signal from colleagues were merely likely to suffer from burnout and even, well, anxiety.

Employees who “stress brag” are more likely to be perceived as both less likeable and less competent by their colleagues. Image: Pexels
Employees who “stress brag” are more likely to be perceived as both less likeable and less competent by their colleagues. Image: Pexels

Rodell explained that a colleague’s busy bragging can make it seem like it’s a “good thing to be stressed,” thereby infecting the “co-worker next to them.”

“They wind up feeling more stressed, which leads to higher burnout or withdrawal from their work,” she explained. “Think of it as this spiralling contagious effect from one person to the next.”

Interestingly, this negative perception doesn’t apply to employees who are actually stressed, just the phonies who want to be seen as such, per Rodell.

Ironically, workers whose anxiety appears to be genuine are also viewed as more competent, she claimed.

“It’s not the being stressed part that’s a problem,” she said. “If you genuinely feel stressed, it’s OK to find the right confidant to share with and talk about it. But be mindful that it is not a badge of honour to be bragged about – that will backfire.”

This isn’t the first study to suggest that authenticity is the way to go – research from 2018 showed that humble braggers – people who boast about themselves under the guise of modesty – are more reviled than regular old braggarts.

Originally published as 'Busy bragging' is the latest toxic workplace trait to watch out for

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/busy-bragging-is-the-latest-toxic-workplace-trait/news-story/5130b89fa102fc313d51b4f60ab70a37