Discussion: View Thread

Higher Self-Esteem / sandbagging

  • 1.  Higher Self-Esteem / sandbagging

    Posted 07-22-1997 11:11
    I suspect that people who underestimate their abilities succeed not
    because they are cut more slack (i.e. given a higher handicap). After
    all the business world is a "dog eat dog" place. Those with less
    abilities are likely to be the ones that are consumed by the
    competition, not helped. Instead, I suggest that those who
    underestimate their abilities may benefit from a sort of "Avis"
    phenomenon: "We try harder".

    Dutch Driver wrote:

    > I am not surprised to learn that under-estimators appear to be more
    > "successful."
    >
    > In golf, we used to call it 'sandbagging.' Passing yourself off as having
    > a higher hanidcap so you could compete with lesser skilled golfers and win
    > the flight. I used to think the practice was unsportsman-like. I guess I
    > was wrong.

    --

    Gary Stark
    Ph.D. Candidate
    Department of Management
    University of Nebraska
    CBA 209
    Lincoln, NE 68588-0491
    402/472-6215
    gstark@unlgrad1.unl.edu
    (note: letter "l" follows un, number "1" follows grad)