How do you respond to cringeworthy bragging?

Post date: 2021-05-04 03:09:41
Views: 251
I've had a couple of professional interactions recently where my interlocutors were straight-up bragging about their accomplishments, how much money they make, how in demand they are, and so on, for an hour, in meetings where I was asking for a favor. What is the best way to respond?

Given that my social and professional circle tends to lean modest (with occasional namedropping or humblebrags at most), I am completely at sea with this behavior, and felt extremely uncomfortable. I smiled and nodded, but it felt insincere (as it was), cringing internally.

For context: I did not set up the meetings. I merely asked for a favor that could be done over email, but they elected to give me hours of their time, which sounds generous, except that the meetings were 100% about them. I chalk this up to Covid loneliness on their part?
Number of Comments
Please click Here to read the full story.
 
Other Top and Latest Questions:
Meta’s push into cloud computing means Wall Street has to prepare for lower margins
AI agents will soon be able to match human traders, Robinhood CEO tells CNBC
Apple plans five new iPhones through 2027, eyes Chinese-made chips amid foldable push, reports say
Premier Lacrosse League plans to bring in team owners by 2028 'or soon thereafter,' co-founder says
Tesla stock sinks 7% despite strong deliveries report
Why Jim Cramer says investors should 'want to own' this industrial stock
These are the top stock picks from UBS analysts heading into the third quarter
What's the Frequency? Recommend me some radio!
Book: Purgatorio: Canto 23
My bra keeps touching me. It's too hot for this.