Who They Are: Pretender colleagues are the con¹ men and women of the workplace. They may appear self-assured but forever worry about being discovered as frauds.

 

How to Identify Them: Pretenders misrepresent, embellish² and exaggerate, creating misunderstandings and false expectations all around them. They will even manufacture a crisis, just so they can save the day.

 

What to Watch Out For: Ironically, pretenders are capable and likable when a project is in the planning stage. Then, the effort required at the execution stage triggers them to begin hyping themselves and their abilities up. They become an ongoing³ source of frustration⁴, disseminating⁵ misinformation that throws everybody off course, leaving colleagues scratching their heads trying to discern the truth.

 

How to Protect Yourself: Keep track of their fabrications and contradictions to avoid being snared⁶ by a web of deception⁷. When challenged about their problematic conduct, pretenders will often humble⁸ themselves. But humility⁹ is only a temporary state for pretenders. Keep them focused on facts and concrete deliverables, and give them accolades¹⁰ only for successfully completing projects.

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