5 Strategies for Managing Boastful Person in Workplace

When you begin your career, you often end up working alone, whether by choice or circumstance. I too have had a similar experience, and frankly, I preferred it. As a less social person, I enjoyed working independently. Not having colleagues who were better than me at work also encouraged me to go solo.

However, as I advanced in my career and started managing teams, I had to work with people. During this time, I encountered a wide variety of personalities. Some were similar to me, preferring to work in isolation and believing in the motto “talk less, work more," while others were completely opposite to my personality.

Working with or managing humble and grounded individuals is straightforward. However, the real challenge arises when dealing with boastful people or those who “talk more and deliver less.” Initially, I found it difficult to manage such individuals and tried to limit my interactions. However, I soon realized that I needed to learn how to deal with them sooner or later.

One aspect of my personality that might make it challenging to deal with boastful individuals is my tendency to assert dominance to accomplish tasks when I know I’m right. I’m not afraid to admit that I can be assertive, but not in a detrimental way. I believe this assertiveness stems from the value I contribute and the necessity to exercise a degree of control to put my ideas into action.

A characteristic deeply rooted in boastful people is a desire to assert dominance. The issue arises when they try to assert dominance even when they are incorrect, which often leads to conflict. I am more than willing to accept someone else’s solution if it is correct and supported by facts, even if my own proposed solution would yield a similar outcome. However, when someone proposes a solution merely to assert their dominance, it truly annoys me.

When these individuals were just colleagues, their show-off nature could stir some insecurities, but it was still manageable as their actions didn’t directly impact my work. However, the issue escalated when such people started reporting to me.

As a manager, one has to tolerate their boastful nature while ensuring that they complete their tasks. Their boastfulness often means they’re less likely to listen to others, making it even more challenging to manage them. If not handled properly, these individuals can derail an entire project.

This article will provide strategies to handle such individuals in the workplace, especially if they’re colleagues or direct reports.

Don’t argue with them

One of the key strategies for managing boastful colleagues is not to argue with them. These individuals have a tendency to love winning arguments so fervently that they may start fabricating facts. This makes any argument or discussion with them hardly productive or conducive to learning. Instead, it often leads to unnecessary conflict and miscommunication.

Moreover, these fabricated facts can cause the conversation to derail, leading to increased frustration and anger on your part. At some point, you might even feel tempted to raise your voice or express your annoyance, which could lead to feelings of guilt or embarrassment later on. This could potentially harm your professional relationships and your personal well-being.

Hence, it’s important to remain calm and composed when dealing with boastful colleagues. Instead of getting drawn into fruitless arguments, focus on facts and constructive discussions. Recognize that their argumentative nature will not allow you to better navigate conversations and maintain a more harmonious workplace environment.

Prepare for the meeting to avoid intimidation

When you’re preparing for a meeting with boastful colleagues, it’s crucial to be well-prepared to avoid feeling intimidated. Here are some extended strategies:

1. Stick to the facts: When in a meeting with such individuals, always keep your discussions grounded in facts. This will help maintain the objectivity of the conversation and prevent it from veering into a show of dominance or superiority. If they attempt to cross you, remember to stay calm and keep your focus on the factual information at hand.
2. Don’t Offer Unsolicited Advice: Boastful colleagues often believe they know best. If they’re speaking, resist the urge to give advice unless it’s specifically asked for. Even when your intentions are good, your advice may be seen as a challenge or criticism, which could exacerbate the situation.
3. Don’t Be Overly Helpful: It might feel like a natural instinct to offer help when you see someone struggling. However, when dealing with boastful individuals, it’s best to wait until they ask for assistance. Offering unsolicited help might be perceived as you trying to assert your superiority, which could lead to further friction.

Don’t feel insecure

Don’t feel insecure when boastful colleagues boast in front of your seniors. This situation may occur often, and it might lead to feelings of insecurity. You might start worrying that their showiness could lead your seniors to perceive you as less capable.

However, it’s important to remember that if you are working with intelligent people, they are adept at assessing others’ abilities and contributions. Even if they don’t interject or comment during the boastful colleague’s display, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are in agreement with what they’ve heard.

They may be silently observing and forming their own judgments based on their experience and understanding of the work environment. It’s also possible that they are already aware of the boastful nature of the colleague and take their grandiose claims with a grain of salt.

So, instead of feeling threatened or insecure, focus on your work and let your results speak for themselves. Your consistent performance and dedication are more likely to earn the respect and recognition of your seniors than ostentatious displays of self-importance.

Work more, talk less

When you are in the presence of boastful colleagues, it is often better to adopt a “speak less, work more” approach. This can help avoid unnecessary interactions that could potentially lead to frustration or irritation.

For instance, you might have the inclination to discuss non-work-related topics or share half-formed thoughts about a project. However, when these discussions take place around boastful colleagues, they may not be received as intended. Instead of listening attentively, boastful individuals often jump in with unsolicited advice.

This advice is often not pertinent to the topic at hand and can be distracting or even demoralizing. This is because boastful individuals often prioritize showcasing their own knowledge or insights over genuinely engaging with what others are saying. Their goal is often not to contribute constructively to the conversation but to assert their own perceived superiority.

As a result, these interactions can leave you feeling frustrated and irked, detracting from your overall productivity and job satisfaction. To avoid these negative outcomes, it can be beneficial to limit your conversations around boastful colleagues, focusing more on your work. This allows you to maintain your concentration and productivity without getting sidetracked by irrelevant or unhelpful comments.

Practice Active Listening

Active listening is an effective strategy to manage boastful colleagues. When you actively listen, you give your full attention to the speaker and respond meaningfully to their statements. This can help you better understand their perspectives, even if you don’t agree with them. By demonstrating that you are listening and engaging with their ideas, you may help to reduce their need to boast or dominate the conversation. Also, it signals respect and understanding, which can help diffuse tension and foster better working relationships.

Active listening also involves validating their feelings and acknowledging their viewpoints, even if they differ from your own. This strategy not only provides an outlet for boastful colleagues to express their ideas but also fosters an environment where everyone feels heard and valued. Over time, this approach can help boastful colleagues feel less compelled to dominate conversations and more comfortable participating in balanced, productive discussions.

Final Thoughts

Regardless of the high quality or reputation of the company you are working for, it’s inevitable that you will encounter boastful colleagues. It’s important to remember that avoiding such individuals is not a viable solution. Instead, equipping oneself with strategies to effectively handle such personalities becomes crucial.

Additionally, if the situation allows, consider varying your projects. Working on different projects can provide exposure to diverse teams and individuals. This can not only enhance your professional growth but can also help diffuse the impact of boastful colleagues. By diversifying your work engagements, you can ensure a balanced and less stressful work environment.

Although I enjoy sharing my experiences to help others going through similar phases of life, I primarily write about productivity and healthy lifestyles. If you’re interested in learning more about these topics, please follow and subscribe. If you find my content helpful, show your appreciation by giving me a clap. Your support encourages me to create more!