Try-hard coworker constantly one-ups employee in workplace group chat: ‘Honestly feels forced’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 31, 2026 4:00 AM EST

We all have that one coworker who needs to have the last word, hoping to shine brighter than you at any given moment for all colleagues to see.

You know the type. Everyone has had a "shadow," for lack of a better word, in their workplace. It's that one colleague who knows you're more capable, but doesn't have to become a manager's pet to prove it. You're effortlessly skilled, and these kinds of colleagues, despite that, appreciate it. It's as if your existence is solely to offend them and steal what they believe is rightfully theirs. Of course, that isn't true in the slightest, but it's easier to blame someone else than to look inward, unfortunately.

The best part? You have to deal with them until one of you leaves the company! Not to sound all doom-and-gloom, but most managers struggle to reprimand these kinds of colleagues because, at the end of the day, it doesn't really fall under any protected issues in most states and countries. Now, that, of course, depends on what the colleague specifically does, but in this next story, the colleague just reiterates this employee's work in the Teams work chat, often feigning importance for minuscule tasks. Anything to be heard, huh?

Scroll below to read the full story, but be careful. You might experience flashbacks from five jobs ago. These colleagues follow us everywhere we go, seemingly…

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • businessman using his laptop and computer monitor at work
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "Coworker keeps ‘competing’ for attention in Teams. Do managers notice this?"

    Hello everyone. I'm dealing with an exhausting dynamic at work and I want an outside perspective.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • I have a coworker who always tries to be the main character. He comments on almost everything people write in Teams, even when it has nothing to do with him, and he's constantly trying to get visibility/approval.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • He often messages colleagues in Teams even when they're sitting right next to him, mainly because managers are included in the chat.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • A few weeks ago in the office, I casually said something like: "Oh, I found this issue in the system." He literally jumped up from his desk and went "This is something the boss needs to know, I'm going to tell him." It was something I had just discovered and was about to handle myself.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • We are an international team of 15, but he and I are the only ones who speak the same language.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • It feels like he really wants to be the "only one" representing that language/country, and he doesn't like it when I get credit for anything (even though I'm just doing my job).
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • Two managers assigned him and me to a small project: maintaining a specific internal app. We have a Teams group with the two managers, him, and me.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • Most of the time that chat is dead, it can easily go a month without a single message because the app usually runs fine.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • This morning I found a real issue and posted it in that group so everyone was aware.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • I wrote a normal update like: "Hi team, I found this issue, just flagging it, I'm looking into it and I'll try to resolve it escalate if needed." My manager replied with something like: "Good catch!
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • please escalate to X team. Good job." Then, about 3 hours later, my coworker posts an almost identical message in the same style... but about a much smaller "issue" that honestly feels forced / like he invented something minor just to get the same kind of praise.
    via Professional-Tax3077

  • Praise is important in the workplace; there's no denying that. Positive reinforcement is the way you keep your employees happy, and keeping morale in tip-top shape is one of the most important tasks a manager has on their roster. There's such a thing as too much, especially when it's clear that an employee is saying anything and everything to wring out the last of the manager's compliments for the day. Move over, manager's pet. Everyone needs a few compliments now and then. You're stealing them all!

    In all seriousness, what would you do if you were in this employee's shoes?

  • It's the timing that gets me: that chat can be silent for weeks, and the exact day I post a meaningful finding (and get a positive response), he suddenly posts a copycat "I found an issue, I'll try to fix it" message.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • microsoft teams app
    via Dimitri Karastelev for Unsplash
  • I'm not trying to compete with him. I just want to do my work normally without this weird attention-seeking behavior.
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • I'm 28, he's 45, and it genuinely feels like I'm dealing with a teenager. Do managers usually notice this kind of "look at me too" behavior and the timing of it?
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • And do people like this ever stop, or is this just their personality forever?
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • Aggravating-Wind6387 As a leader, these people are exhausting.
    via Aggravating-Wind6387
  • OP Professional-Tax3077 It's exhausting for everyone I think. Whenever this guy is not working, the team is focused and working. When he is around, teams is full of "the office" gifs, messages, mentioning the managers all the time, etc...
    via Professional-Tax3077
  • sunshine0713- Everyone else thinks hes annoying and makes fun of him behind his back. Don't worry about it. He needs validation for some reason and it has nothing to do with you.
    via sunshine0713-
  • echinodermo A good manager notices nuances in people's behavior, ESPECIALLY the way they interact with others. I will tell you that when I see this behavior, I see someone that is deeply insecure. When I have to manage people like that, I make a point to regularly give the person private feedback about their performance (good and bad, just reminders that I am paying attention and appreciate them). But I also increase my praise for the rest of the team, especially about how well people work toget
    via echinoderm0
  • Samhain-1843 Yep. They noticed and he'll be taken advantage of because now the manager knows he will do ANYTHING they wish no matter what. But he won't be promoted. Managers aren't stupid. They know ass kissers when they see one.
    via Samhain-1843
  • dion_o He sounds like management material.
    via dion_o
  • Necessary_Top7894 What a weirdo Imao
    via Necessary_Top7894

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

terrible coworkers workplace discussion boss coworker stories manager
Scroll Down For The Next Article