What happens to people who are overconfident? Are they generally rewarded, promoted, and respected? Or do we distrust them and avoid collaborating with them? Our research suggests it may depend on how they express confidence.
Research: When Overconfidence Is an Asset, and When It’s a Liability
It depends on how you express it.
December 11, 2018
Summary.
What happens to people who are overconfident? Are they generally rewarded, promoted, and respected? Or do we distrust them and avoid collaborating with them? Our research suggests it may depend on how they express confidence. One way people express confidence is verbally — with specific expressions of confidence in their judgments. Another way is nonverbally, as body language and tone of voice can make one appear confident. In a series of studies, researchers found that overconfidence hurt one’s reputation — but only if the person expressed confidence verbally. Those who expressed confidence nonverbally weren’t penalized.