Hidden Signs Someone’s Becoming ‘Tengu’ in Your Team

A Quiet Shift in the Air

It often begins subtly: a colleague who once sought feedback now brushes it off. A teammate starts speaking with a trace more finality, their emails gaining a clipped, confident tone. Their insights are sharp—but less collaborative. No single act is unkind, and yet, the atmosphere around them begins to shift. You may find yourself hesitating before speaking up, unsure whether you’re imagining the change. In Japan, there’s a name for this phenomenon: Tengu ni naru—to become a Tengu.

What Is a Tengu, Really?

In Japanese folklore, Tengu are mythical creatures known for their long noses and mischievous pride. They were once revered as protective mountain spirits but later came to symbolize arrogance, vanity, and those who lose humility after gaining status or skill. In the workplace, the metaphor lives on: when someone “becomes a Tengu,” it means they’ve grown conceited—often after praise or promotion—and they might not even notice.

This isn’t always a fall from grace. It’s a subtle, often well-intentioned transformation. But the consequences—disconnection, erosion of trust, and social distance—are real.

The Signs of a Modern Tengu

While the transformation is rarely dramatic, there are signals. A person may:

• Offer advice that feels more like instruction than conversation
• Interrupt others more frequently, especially in meetings
• React defensively to feedback
• Speak as if their way is the best—or only—way
• Dismiss nuance or shared decision-making

They might not be trying to dominate; they may genuinely believe they’re being helpful. But intention doesn’t always match impact.

In Japanese, softer synonyms include:

• 思い上がる (omo’iagaru) – to overestimate oneself
• うぬぼれる (unuboreru) – to be self-conceited
• 調子に乗る (chōshi ni noru) – to get carried away

These words remind us: arrogance can take many forms, and sometimes, it’s just someone feeling a little too proud.

When Confidence Becomes Distance

The difference between self-assurance and conceit is often invisible—until it isn’t. A once-collaborative teammate may slowly find themselves on the outside of informal chats or left off decisions they used to be part of. Not out of malice, but because their presence no longer feels easy.

Coworkers withdraw quietly. Support recedes. And the person, unaware, might wonder why things feel colder. This isn’t about punishment—it’s about relational space shrinking in the absence of humility.

A Reflection, Not Just a Label

To call someone a Tengu is easy. To realize we may have become one is harder.

Perhaps you were praised in your last performance review and found yourself interrupting a junior colleague this week. Perhaps your tone turned sharp when someone offered feedback. These are moments worth noticing—not with shame, but with curiosity.

Tengu is not a fixed identity. It’s a season, a shadow, a shift. And recognizing it is the first step to returning to balance.

Quiet Remedies

• Invite dialogue. Ask, not assume. Feedback isn’t a threat; it’s a mirror.
• Revisit your tone. Are you speaking with your team, or at them?
• Share the credit. Acknowledge others, even when your own role was central.
• Check in with a trusted colleague. What’s the unspoken mood around you?

Sometimes, confidence is earned. But humility keeps it from curdling.

A Cultural Reminder

In Japan, the phrase Tengu ni naru is often used as a gentle caution. A reminder that even small success can cloud our awareness. That even kind, capable people can slip into airs without realizing.

We don’t need to fear becoming a Tengu—but we should stay aware of the wind changing around us.

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