We’ve all been guilty of overselling at some point, whether it’s the effectiveness of our products, the quality of our services, the strength of our dreams, the scale of our vision, or the depth of our knowledge. It’s a natural part of persuading others. Whether you’re selling yourself, your skills, a product, a service, or an idea, chances are, you’ve exaggerated its value at least once to win over a sceptic. And just so you know, I’m not here to judge you.
However, as an employer, overselling your company’s vision, capabilities, and work environment to a prospective employee is one of the fastest ways to demoralise them once they start the job. Why? Let me illustrate with a story.
In 2019, a major Hollywood studio released a film with a captivating trailer – a tiny snippet that’s supposed to underscore the full movie. When I saw the trailer featuring Dwayne Johnson, packed with intense action scenes, thrilling power lines and stunning pyrotechnic effects, I was immediately hooked. I promised myself I would watch it the moment it hit cinemas.
Now, there’s something about the cinema experience that can sometimes distort our perception of a movie. The big screen, the surround sound, and the shared reactions of other viewers can trick our brains into believing a mediocre film is better than it really is. It’s almost deceptive.
But in this case, no amount of cinematic illusion could save the movie. It was so bad that I walked out before it even reached the halfway point. I felt deceived and completely let down. The trailer had promised an exhilarating experience, but the actual film failed to deliver.No surprise that it saw a nearly 40% drop at the Nigerian box office in its second week.
This is exactly how an employee feels when they realise their new job doesn’t match the grand promises made during the hiring process. Regardless of salary and benefits, disappointment sets in, leading to disengagement and a loss of morale.
So, is overselling your company to prospective employees good or bad? The answer is simple – it’s BAD. Be honest about what you can offer. Sell the truth, not a fantasy.
