Do you know anybody that brags? If you do, how does that make you feel? No, this isn't a post where I turn into a therapist, but more to think about an excellent TEDx Talk that encourages us to move away from the idea of "bad" bragging and instead think about "good" bragging.

Is that even possible, though? To brag, show off, or shout about things we are good at does make people look in our direction, but depending on who is doing the talking we can have very different reactions. Sometimes we might be genuinely happy for someone's achievement or talents, but other times we can feel jealous, resentful, or even bored by someone telling the rest of the world how great they are. How on earth do we turn that into something positive?

I don't brag very often... or was that bragging in itself? Quite often, we do not brag about our achievements at work because we don't want the rest of the world to think about us negatively. But if we don't shout about what we have done or what we can do, how is anybody going to notice and celebrate with us? I am not going to get a promotion or a new client if I just sit silently behind my computer screen, so maybe there are ways to brag in a good way.

The TEDx Talk I mentioned talks about creating a work culture where everyone is encouraged to celebrate everyone else's achievements: the idea of high water raising all ships. If everybody talks in the same way, our individual brags do not stand out like a sore thumb, and we are more likely to motivate one another in a more competitive, yet still friendly, way. It might not feel like the most natural thing in the world, but if we can get used to telling people when we have done something well, in a way that is not expecting people to shower us with praise, maybe we can all make ourselves into good braggers.

So, go and brag about yourself today! Or, if you are not quite ready, consider the following discussion questions:

1. Can bragging be a motivator for personal growth and achievement, or does it hinder personal development?
2. Have you ever experienced a situation where someone's bragging or showing off had a positive or negative effect on you or others around them?
3. What are some potential strategies for dealing with someone who frequently brags or shows off in a group setting?
4. How do social media platforms impact bragging or showing off in today's society?
5. Do you think humility and modesty are undervalued qualities in our modern culture? Why or why not?

Picture credit: Kindel Media @ Pexels

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKtM-sPY34&t=632s&pp=ygUSZ29vZCBicmFnZ2luZyB0ZWR4