In 2000, British Airways sponsored the construction of the London Eye, a giant Ferris wheel in the heart of London. When the builders encountered some technical difficulties while trying to erect the wheel, Richard Branson, the mercurial founder of rival airline Virgin Atlantic Airways, seized the opportunity. He arranged for a blimp to fly over the London Eye with a giant banner that read ‘‘BA can’t get it up!”
The Case for Trash-Talking at Work, According to Research
And the dangers that come with it.
October 18, 2017
Afanasia/iStock
Summary.
Though executives are acutely attuned to the role of competition in the workplace, far less attention has been paid to the role of competitive communication — trash-talking. Trash-talking is pervasive in organizations. When researchers surveyed office employees at Fortune 500 companies, they found that 57% of the employees reported that trash-talking occurs on a monthly basis. Trash-talking increases the psychological stakes of competition and boosts the motivation and productivity of the target. However, because trash-talking boosts motivation and the drive to defeat an opponent, it can also promote the use of unethical behavior. Furthermore, trash-talking undermines creativity. Managers should understand these effects — and be careful the next time they decide to badmouth a competitor.
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Capture your audience's attention with smarter emails, Slacks, memos, and reports.