Status Inflation: How to Stop Turning Ordinary People into Overinflated Icons

"Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many." – Phaedrus

Ever been terrified to talk to someone just because of their title? Welcome to the world of People with Status Inflation (PWSI)—a condition that’s far more common than you think.

Dealing with people with status inflation 

I saw a headline last week: "Canadian families can expect grocery bills to increase by $801 next year." Inflation—especially cost inflation—has become an unavoidable reality. We're all feeling it, right? We’re watching prices climb, and with it, the weight of decisions that once seemed easy. The essentials are now out of reach, and it’s hard not to feel the strain.

Making these choices is hard—but this article isn’t about price inflation. This one’s about a different kind of inflation that’s a lot harder to spot: PWSI—People with Status Inflation. This is when we take ordinary people and make them seem like untouchable giants in our minds.

Take Jade. She's a mother of three, married for nine years, living in a beautiful suburban home, listening to country music, hanging with her friends on the weekends—normal stuff. But Jade is also the Vice President of ACME Corporation. As soon as she walks into that office, PWSI kicks in. Suddenly, she’s not just a person; she’s a title, a position, a figure to be revered.

Sitting at my desk, terrified to go in

I’ve been there. Early in my career, I was a prime example of someone suffering from PWSI. I’d sit at my desk, psyching myself up before talking to my boss. I’d overthink everything, wanting to sound smart, trying not to flub my way through a conversation. I was terrified of seeming unintelligent, and that fear came from the fact that he had a title that made him feel more powerful than me.

But you know what? There was a moment in my career when it hit me—I was no longer intimidated. I had climbed the ladder, moved into more senior roles, and found myself having normal conversations with people who were once my “bosses.” That same boss from earlier in my career was now a peer and friend.  We cracked jokes, exchanged stories, and I realized we were all just people. That’s when I realized that I had stopped suffering from PWSI.

Here’s what I learned from that journey that I want to share with you:

Recognize they’re just humans too:

As I spent more time in leadership circles, I started to realize that the people I once feared had the same insecurities, doubts, and personal challenges that I did. Titles and positions can create walls, but those walls are built on assumptions. People are people, flaws and all. Humanize the person behind the title, and you’ll see them differently.

Exposure therapy works:

The more time you spend with people in senior roles, the easier it becomes to see them for what they are—normal humans with a different level of responsibility. It’s like exposure therapy: gradually, you become comfortable talking with them, understanding their pressures, and realizing they’re just doing the same work as you.

Stop trying so hard:

I once had a manager tell me that I missed out on a promotion because I wasn’t able to sit around the table with the director and just be “one of the team.” I was trying so hard to impress that I was coming across as inauthentic. Relax. Be yourself. People respond to authenticity, not performance.

Be more curious:

Curiosity is your secret weapon. When you stop feeling intimidated and start asking questions about how things work, the fear starts to break down. People love sharing what they do—if you show genuine interest, you’ll find that the barriers to great conversations disappear.

Closing thoughts:

"To be a leader, you don’t have to be a superhero. You just need to be human." – Anonymous

I can’t promise that PWSI will vanish overnight, but here’s the thing: as I grew in my career, I realized people were experiencing PWSI with me. I thought, “Really? I’m the laid-back, approachable one.” But guess what? They didn’t know that. It’s my responsibility to break down that barrier too.

Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about relationships. The sooner we all stop inflating status and start connecting as equals, the faster we build trust and collaboration in our teams. So, take the first step. Ditch the fear. And let’s make PWSI a thing of the past.