Nothing is more annoying than someone bragging about their success. Right? Not necessarily, it turns out. When bosses brag, it can inspire employees to put more effort into their own work. Specifically, when bosses who are regarded as role models by their employees brag about their work accomplishments, their subordinates report feeling more inspired and motivated.

However, it’s entirely another story when we hear our peers at work brag. Their accomplishments threaten our egos. If they managed to achieve that success, why haven’t we? It’s triggering. 

In our research, we found that when a role model mentions one of their achievements, we tend to appraise it differently. Their higher rank in the organization makes us think that they have earned their success. When they share work-relevant positive stories about themselves, this information becomes a road map for people who aspire to achieve similar success. 

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