Arrogance is mistaken as Confidence leading to a Toxic Culture

Let me begin with a question I remember being asked to me often :

Q.: Why do I have fewer friends in the Indian Travel and Hospitality Industry even after being there and doing all?

A.: I stay away from arrogance and hence have less number of successful people in my circle from the trade.

Success often is seen as accompanied by arrogance and a tone of politeness is replaced by an authoritative tone. In the race to project themselves bigger and better than the competition, they unknowingly make the customers feel small. Their staff is trained to do exactly as told and asked to leave their brains behind at home, each one is like a robot speaking the voice of management blindfolded in their own sense of pride for God knows what. Remember that line when you as a customer complained about something or tried to question their working: " Sir/Madam it's as per our Management Policy...."

What worries me is that this toxic culture is now being officially entered even in institutions from where future staffers are getting educated. Yes you read it right, I called it #toxicculture

"Stop justifying 'some level of arrogance' as a 'manifestation of confidence'." - Vineet Mohan.

"Confidence is a powerful, positive thing, but only when it’s tempered by a healthy dose of humility." - Ted Rubin.

Arrogance is self-centered and distances you from others whereas confidence will strengthen your bond and help build trust. Yes, it is often said the other way around that confidence at the workplace shouldn't be taken as arrogance; I say: the same way arrogance too can't be mistaken as confidence in business.

#Disclaimer: The above content is completely based on personal experience and shouldn't be taken as a generic reflection of the industry as a whole. The author further aims for this article to be an eye-opener and not to be taken as a critic-peace.

Confidence at the workplace: Understand the difference and be a better professional.