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Humility and Competence: Which Attribute Affects Social Relationships at Work?
1School of Social and Health Sciences, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, Singapore.
Summary
In workplace interactions, likability often trumps competence. This study found humble individuals are more personally likable, but competent individuals receive more professional cooperation, regardless of seniority.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Workplace Behavior
Background:
- Research indicates a preference for likable over competent colleagues in professional settings.
- The role of humility, when contrasted with competence, in workplace preferences is less understood.
- Four archetypes emerge from combining humility and competence: humble star, humble fool, competent jerk, and incompetent jerk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine personal and professional preferences for workplace archetypes defined by humility and competence.
- To investigate the moderating effect of colleague seniority on these preferences.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 475 working adults (aged 21-77).
- Participants evaluated preferences for different humility-competence archetypes.
- Data analysis explored personal and professional interaction preferences and the influence of seniority.
Main Results:
- Humble fools were rated as more likable than competent jerks in personal contexts.
- Competent jerks received higher cooperation in professional interactions compared to humble fools.
- Colleague seniority did not significantly moderate these preferences.
Conclusions:
- Workplace humility's value is context-dependent, not universally positive.
- Promoting humility in organizations requires careful consideration of its impact on both personal and professional dynamics.
- Balancing likability and competence is crucial for effective workplace interactions.
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