This is a side effect of organisational structure, imo, less so personality. Modern companies have an increasingly "court politics" culture and structure. Many

This is a side effect of organisational structure, imo, less so personality. Modern companies have an increasingly "court politics" culture and structure. Many roles are unique, and organisational structure is constantly changing. "Senior Customer Advocate can mean something prestigious one day, something menial the next, and be eliminated as a role the following week. These dynamics are constantly negotiated in meetings, group emails and such. One or two meetings can turn someone from pivotal to "what does he actually do here?" People are highly aware of, sensitive to, and responsive to status dynamics. Status uncertainty is a major source of anxiety. "Know your place" was a slogan of anglo society for many centuries. We tend to interpret that, from our modern liberal/republican perspective, as horrible. It's a tool of patriarchy, class suppression, etc. That is true. It was. But it also played on realities of human psychology. We are status seeking and are happier when our status is high, but we have natural coping mechanisms to deal with a low-but-secure social status. Insecurity of status is highly anxiety inducing. That's where that insufferable, over-zealous tail wagging comes from. It's also why you notice it especially when people are on holiday. They're not present to monitor and defend their status. That status really is insecure. They could really lose it over a vacation.