What is hubris, what is the origin and definition of having a hubristic personality or showing traits of hubris , and how can you deal with someone at work showing behaviours of acting with hubris?
What is the definition of Hubris?
Hubris {hue-bris} is a noun, meaning excessive confidence or exaggerated pride.
What does Hubris mean and where did it come from?
Originally from ancient Greek, it is a dangerous character flaw, capable of provoking the wrath of the gods. And you do not want that wrath hanging over you.
The word’s connotation initially meant the “intentional use of violence to humiliate or degrade”, and this changed over time as hubris came to be defined as “overweening presumption” meaning an individual disregards “the divinely fixed limits on human action in an ordered cosmos”. Recognise that in anyone?!
Hat tip to Mark Rosselli for introducing me to the word – co-founder of a previous agency, who was a very knowledgeable and erudite man. Intimidatingly so at times (!).
What are examples of hubristic personalities?
There are many examples of hubris in the public domain. For example, much of the UK Government currently and plenty of leadership examples from CEOs / chairmen / heads of state.
Click the image gallery below for more detail on each of these stories:
(feat. James Watt of Brewdog, multiple cricket club chairmen, North Korea’s Kim Jong Il, and Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos)
Pride comes before a fall
Harking back to classic Greek tragedy, hubris was often a sometimes fatal shortcoming bringing on the fall of the tragic, overconfident hero.
This overconfidence and overfocused zealous attitude, led the hero to try and overstep the boundaries that some of us live by – morals, values, such as integrity and honesty – moving into a ‘godlike’ sphere.
And the god’s did not take kindly to this, often smiting down said hero, putting them back in their place. I do like a good moral smiting. More of this IRL please. (Ahem - Sue Gray)
Hubris at work
So if you see experience these traits in the workplace or with a colleague or client for example how can you counteract it?
The barrel chested stance, the ability to bareface lie, the refusal to see other viewpoints or listen to advice.
NOTE I am not a qualified coach or therapist, and these are my opinions, so please take the below piece of advice with the appropriate pinch/bowl of salt.
1. Counter with facts
Hubris considers elements that people want to believe. In some cases, they truly believe that they are factually accurate.
Bring data, references, faces, figures and examples, as well as realistic expectations from yourself, to try and ground any conversations, removing the discussion from a ‘you versus them’, tit for tat scenario.
2. Stay calm
If you feel like you’re getting riled, or that the heat is getting turned up, take a step back. On some occasions we can associate hubris with aggression and that never really turns out well at all.
Don’t know if you’ve tried to engage/protect yourself from someone with excessive pride. I have. Didn’t turn out well.
Explain you’re not going to discuss at the present moment , and remove yourself if you feel threatened or belittled. Rearrange or have someone with you potentially as a mediator or conduit, if not, as a third party witness.
And 3. DON’T roll over
On certain occasions (emphasis on not all), those with a hubristic personality or displaying tendencies, can ‘appreciate’ the person opposite them (you) standing up for themselves. You don’t need to shout, just bring the facts and present them.
If you are anxious, worried or scared, take confidence in the fact that your opinion matters and you have value, and raise this with the individual in the appropriate, yet firm, way.
Hope that was of interest, let me know what you think, comment below or on the social post you followed, and how you have handled and hubristic personality that you may have encountered, worked with or married. Ok, that last one was a joke.