Name: Stress relief.
Age: As a tactic, ancient; as a term, about three months.
View: Overwhelmed and proud.
Are people accidentally bragging while under stress? These are the people who deliberately brag about being stressed at work, during work.
Why would you do that? To make yourself appear competent and effective; to prove that you are a team player who is willing to go the extra mile.
I see them. How cunning. The thing is, it can backfire.
What makes you so confident? There is research to prove it. A new study published in the journal Personnel Psychology had 360 participants rate an imaginary coworker who indulged in stress bragging.
What did they find? They found that the practice can have significant negative consequences in the workplace for stress braggers.
What kind of consequences? Colleagues will tend to see you as less likable and less competent. They are also less likely to help you in times of need.
You mean they hate me just because I’m stressed at work? No, it’s because you won’t stop going at it. “It’s not the stress part that’s a problem,” says lead study author Jessica Rodell. “We’ve found that if I perceive you as stressed, I actually see you as more competent.”
But how will my colleagues perceive that I’m stressed if I don’t tell them? It’s more about HOW you tell them. “If you’re really feeling stressed, it’s good to find the right confidante to share and talk about,” says Rodell. “But mind you, it’s not a badge of honor to brag about.”
So what should I do about stress brags in my office? Do you ignore them? Unfortunately it is not that simple. Stressful boasting also has negative consequences for those who end up.
Oh my God – how? Co-workers of stress braggers often report higher levels of stress themselves.
Why? Because braggarts normalize stress in the workplace. “It just spills over to the colleague next to them,” says Rodell. “They feel more stressed, which leads to greater burnout or withdrawal from their work. Think of it as this spiraling effect from one person to another.â€
I’ll tell you what – I didn’t need that on my plate right now. Relax. Take a deep breath.
OK thank you. Now what? Now gather all that stress into a big ball and keep it to yourself.
Say: “I humbly submit that I am crazy.â€
Do not say: “Nothing much, just crying in the bathroom. How about you? Do you have plans for the weekend?â€
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Image Source : www.theguardian.com