Arrogant Bosses (and Employees) are Less Competent---a Study Proves it!
Posted on March 26, 2023 by Donald Stuart Chappell, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
This article discusses the 2012 study that indicated arrogant bosses and employees are less competent than their non-arrogant counterparts.
The Workplace Arrogance Scale (WARS) was introduced in 2012 by Stanley Silverman and his colleagues from The University of Akron and Michigan State University. The signature finding of the initial round of WARS surveys was that most arrogant employees and bosses are less intelligent, skilled, and competent than their non-arrogant peers and use arrogance as a veil to cover the low self-esteem resulting from that lack of competence. Conversely, the survey also revealed that less arrogant employees and bosses produced better results than their arrogant counterparts, but often suffered under the bad environment created by those same arrogant counterparts; that is, arrogant workers and leaders often create difficulties for all employees in maintaining healthy relationships. Additionally, the initial study found that arrogance which is tolerated in the workplace can seriously damage motivation, creative energy, and all sorts of crucial social interactions.
The study also came up with two conclusions specific to the impact arrogant leaders have on their areas of control, which are increased employee turnover and a negative overall work atmosphere, making it similar to that created by employees, but typically with greater and wider impact.
One of the best ways to combat workplace arrogance is to cultivate an environment in which curiosity and learning are paramount. Think about it . . . arrogance has little food to feed off of in an environment in which constant learning and experimentation, and the unavoidable failures and setbacks that accompany them, are valued.
TYPICAL BEHAVIORS OF ARROGANT EMPLOYEES
- Ridiculing and attempting to diminish coworkers’ ideas and achievements in front of everyone;
- Imposing excess advice even in matters they are not competent about;
- Weird nonverbal communication (e.g., staring at someone for a long time to make them feel awkward);
- Behaving nicely with managers but being nasty to peers; and
- Making speeches at meetings and discussions a “one-man show.”
TYPICAL BEHAVIORS OF ARROGANT LEADERS
- Prioritizes his personal agenda over his team’s and his organizations’s agenda;
- His behaviors differ when interacting with reports and supervisors;
- Publicly discredits the ideas of others or exhibits other behaviors that seemed designed to make others look bad;
- Rejects constructive feedback; and
- Wears a crown of superiority and attempts to make others feel inferior.
*For a more nuanced take on this topic, please check out the corresponding episode on The Introspective Leader Podcast. Co-hosted by Stuart, The Introspective Leader Podcast delves into the ideas and practices that will help you become a more effective and respected organizational leader!
