The Case for Trash-Talking at Work, According to Research

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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