Every workplace has its star: the person who keeps getting promoted to levels that match her sky-high ego. But it's her ego, not her skills, which likely got her there, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers at four different British universities found that overconfident people tend to be judged as better than they actually are.
The study makes the point that overconfident people tend to be self-deceived, so they truly believe they're God's gift to the workplace. And researchers say this self-deception may have evolved to make people better at fooling others about their worth.
They confirmed it by monitoring tutorials at two London universities, in which small groups discuss the course materials with a teaching assistant. At the end of the first tutorial session, researchers asked the students to predict how each of their peers would perform in the class; they predicted both their final grade in the class and how well they would do in their next assignment. Each participant also rated his or her own performance. The grader did not know the identity of the students when reviewing their work.
Students who gave themselves a higher predicted grade also received a higher prediction from their peers, regardless of how they actually did in the class. And underconfident students who gave themselves a lower grade were also given lower grades by their peers. The results were unaffected by factors like sex, age, or wealth, and the connection between confidence and ratings persisted as the class went on.
This bias towards the overconfident can be a real danger, researchers say. That's because being too confident can lead to disasters for bankers, stock traders, and even armies, because they become too vulnerable to risk. But as long as you don't have lives (or billions of dollars) at stake at your job, you'd better start faking it until you make it.
Related:
The States That Have the Biggest Pay Gap for Women
Why You Should Care About Equal Pay
Want to Find Out What Your Co-Worker's Make?
The Real Reason Why Companies Don't Want to Pay You Fairly
-
Exclusive: Meghan Markle Hosts Heartfelt Holiday Dinner for Afghan Women Starting New Lives in AmericaThe Duchess of Sussex sat down with ‘Marie Claire’ to discuss the Archewell Foundation’s Welcome Project and her own holiday traditions with Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
-
Cara Delevingne Dishes on Taking Taylor Swift on a "Wild Ride" When They Lived TogetherWell, they weren't bored.
-
Susan Sarandon's Daughter Says 'Thelma & Louise Star' Was a Hardcore "Almond Mom"She was very into health foods.
-
Peloton’s Selena Samuela on Turning Tragedy Into StrengthBefore becoming a powerhouse cycling instructor, Selena Samuela was an immigrant trying to adjust to new environments and new versions of herself.
-
This Mutual Fund Firm Is Helping to Create a More Sustainable FutureAmy Domini and her firm, Domini Impact Investments LLC, are inspiring a greater and greener world—one investor at a time.
-
So Your Company Is Diverse, Now What?Morgan DeBaun, CEO and co-founder of Blavity, shares her best advice for running a multicultural company.
-
Power Players Build on Success"The New Normal" left some brands stronger than ever. We asked then what lies ahead.
-
Don't Stress! You Can Get in Good Shape Money-wiseYes, maybe you eat paleo and have mastered crow pose, but do you practice financial wellness?
-
The Book Club RevolutionLots of women are voracious readers. Other women are capitalizing on that.
-
The Future of Women and WorkThe pandemic has completely upended how we do our jobs. This is Marie Claire's guide to navigating your career in a COVID-19 world.
-
Black-Owned Coworking Spaces Are Providing a Safe Haven for POCFor people of color, many of whom prefer to WFH, inclusive coworking spaces don't just offer a place to work—they cultivate community.
