INTHEBLACK October 2026 - Magazine - Page 60
C L O S I N G T H E B O O KS
Holiday brag — or bonding?
From LinkedIn posts to team chats, holiday updates are more visible than
ever. Before clicking “send” on that vacay post, consider where sharing
stops building connection and starts tipping into oversharing.
Words Sonakshi Babbar
The first day back from leave often follows a familiar script.
Someone arrives at work or logs into a team meeting looking
refreshed, with a few stories to tell and a phone full of holiday
photos. Before long, colleagues are shown shots of beach
sunsets, mountain views or a plate of pasta from a tiny
Italian village.
For many workplaces, it is a familiar ritual and one
of the easiest ways for individuals to reconnect after time
away. However, in an era of team chats, LinkedIn updates
and workplace social channels, what is the etiquette around
sharing holiday photos at work?
TMI SYNDROME
People value personal connection but are wary of too much
information (TMI) at work. Holiday photos are a classic
example. A few snaps and a funny travel mishap can spark
conversation; a photo dump on a workplace platform
is another matter.
It is a tension many workplaces are familiar with. A UK
survey found that while 17 per cent of employees believe
no topic is off limits at work, half say they find
colleagues who overshare annoying.
According to a behavioural scientist
at Harvard Business School,
avoiding oversharing can
be as simple as asking:
‘Why am I sharing this?’
Whether the goal is to build
rapport or gain attention,
taking a moment to think about
the purpose behind a post can
help keep sharing on the right
side of the line.
CURATION IS BETTER
Holiday photos rarely tell the whole
story. Just like on social media, people
are less likely to share the delayed flight,
the lost luggage or the hours spent
waiting at the gate. What colleagues
usually see is the polished highlight reel
rather than the reality of the trip.
60 INTHEBLACK October 2026
In the workplace, revealing
snippets about luxury resorts,
business-class upgrades and
exclusive travel experiences can
unintentionally become status
symbols, creating the impression
that everyone else is having
a better time. The result may
be a touch of “leave envy”
among colleagues.
That is why less is often more when
it comes to holiday sharing. A handful
of photos and a memorable story will
usually create connection; an endless
stream of picture-perfect travel shots
is less likely to have the same effect.
THE LEADER LAYER
For managers and senior leaders,
holiday sharing comes with an extra
layer of complexity. In a podcast
episode of Women at Work by
HBR, experts on self-disclosure
note that appropriate personal
sharing can help leaders
connect and build trust.
However, timing and
context matters. Research
published in the Journal of
Applied Psychology
suggests that while
positive personal
sharing can make
people seem warmer
and more likeable, it
can also fuel gossip or raise
questions about priorities.
Leaders often set the tone. Sharing a few
holiday highlights can help people connect,
but restraint and timing matter, too. The aim is not to
avoid personal stories altogether, but to make sure they bring
people together instead of setting them apart.
