Is your toxic colleague more successful than you? Then there is probably a banal quality behind it

2021-03-08T15:07:36.801Z

Mean, devious and no guilt whatsoever - if you have toxic colleagues, you don't need enemies. A study now shows why these personalities are nevertheless often successful in their jobs.

Mean, devious and no guilt whatsoever - if you have toxic colleagues, you don't need enemies.

A study now shows why these personalities are nevertheless often successful in their jobs.

The term “toxic personality” has become more and more fashionable in recent years.

This refers to people who are not so strict about honesty, who behave unfairly and selfishly, and who simply use any means to achieve their goals.

Colleagues * with these characteristics do not exactly make themselves popular in the team.

But strangely enough, it is precisely these employees who climb the career ladder with remarkable frequency.

A study now reveals the reason for this.

Also read:

Emotional intelligence: These five signs indicate a high EQ - do you recognize yourself?

Toxic personalities benefit from social skills

As the psychologists Mareike Kholin and Bastian Kückelhaus from the Institute of Psychology at the University of Bonn have found out, workers with

low values for honesty and humility can

rise to the top if they

compensate for

the toxic parts of their personality

with social skill

For their study, the scientists interviewed employees and supervisors.

Employees should rate themselves in terms of honesty and humility - two traits that tend to fall short in toxic personalities.

Then they rated their colleagues.

Finally, the supervisor should evaluate the work performance.

The amazing thing is that the toxic personalities that their colleagues classified as socially competent were also assessed more diligently by their superiors and took a higher position in the hierarchy.

Also read:

Video application: Candidates with a bookshelf in the background do better.

Honest personalities also get ahead in the job

But don't worry, the study also shows: Those who prefer to be honest and humble in a team can bet on a lack of social skill with these positive characteristics and thus advance in the job.

(as) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

Also read

: Mention your salary expectations in your cover letter?

So that's a disadvantage for women.

Do you want to stay up to date with the latest career news?

Then follow our industry page on the Xing career portal.