Confident or Arrogant? Do You Know the Difference?
While confidence and arrogance may seem to be opposite forms of expression, there is often a fine line between them. Confidence positively expresses your abilities, while arrogance is often associated with believing you’re more intelligent and capable than those around you. Knowing the difference between the two is essential to ensure you remain confident, resourceful, and collaborative at work.
One key distinction between confidence and arrogance is how each affects relationships. Confidence enables collaboration. Competent people employ active listening. They value the input of others, recognizing that diverse perspectives can lead to better outcomes. Arrogant people struggle to make genuine connections with others. They tend to come across as dismissive, condescending, or pedantic.
Some signs of arrogance include:
Ignoring and discounting others’ opinions
Hoarding credit and recognition
Talking over people
Inability to accept feedback or constructive criticism
Preoccupation with one’s image/perception
Demanding behavior and inflexibility—they want things their way
An arrogant person usually makes himself look good by putting others down. Few enjoy being in the company of an arrogant person. No one wants to work with an arrogant person, even one with skills and competence.
Arrogant behaviors you might encounter at work include the following:
Not making eye contact—looking past you for someone better and more helpful to talk to.
Condescending language—demeaning others.
Consistent tardiness without explanation or apology—because YOUR time is unimportant.
Interrupting/talking over people—only what they have to say matters. You are irrelevant.
Being the smartest person in the room and letting everyone know it—arrogant people can’t admit they don’t know everything.
Bragging—they overinflate their importance and throw their accomplishments in others’ faces.
One-upping—arrogant people have more knowledge, broader expertise, and more interesting experiences than the rest of us.
Bashing the competition—arrogant individuals will insist that their products, solutions, or services are THE BEST, no matter the objective truth. They don’t see their competitors’ strengths, so they must minimize their importance.
In contrast, confident people approach others with empathy and grace. They think before they speak. They are proud of their accomplishments without bragging. They are composed and in control of their emotions. They focus on cultivating reciprocal relations, and they are humble.
The Bottom Line
Both confidence and arrogance are rooted in a strong belief in oneself. The difference lies in how that belief is expressed and perceived. Confidence leads to success; arrogance hinders professional growth. Understanding the differences can help develop a healthy sense of self-assurance while avoiding the pitfalls of conceit.