dr rebel: i want to improve how we work, but i keep my mouth shut because i feel people think i am a know-it-all. what should i do?
know-it-alls in the workplace can be pretty annoying. they believe they have the answer to everything, are stubborn, unwilling to listen and want to look good to the boss. people don’t like smart asses because they feel superior to others.
however, some people might not realise they are coming across as know-it-alls and genuinely believe they are helping or contributing valuable insights. or they are so passionate about a topic they can’t stop talking about it.
others may feel compelled to fill silences or dominate discussions out of anxiety or discomfort in social situations. they over-explain or share excessive information because they’re unsure how to navigate the conversation. also, people who grew up in environments where they were rewarded for displaying intelligence may be too focused on sharing their knowledge.
thus, some people may come across as smarty-pants, while in reality, they don’t know any better or just want to do good and fix the workplace. it’s a fine line, and before you label someone as a know-it-all, try to understand their behaviour and motives first.
with this scan, you can discover whether someone is a true smarty-pants.
if you believe that your co-workers find you a know-it-all, these tips may help you:
- check with your team members if they find you a smart ass. often, your self-image is wrong, and you hold on to beliefs that are simply not true.
- challenge yourself to speak up and share your insights on a topic you believe you can add value to the conversation. afterwards, ask for honest feedback on how you did and use it to do better the next time.
- when you speak up, don’t present your idea as a solution but instead frame it as an observation or a suggestion. if you add a question at the end, such as “do you think that would work?”, you open up the conversation and show you are open to the suggestion of others.
- assess yourself with this rebel tool to see if you are a smarty-pants, and ask your co-workers to assess you too. it might give you surprising feedback, and your colleagues will understand the difference between a know-it-all and someone with good intentions.
remember, there is a big difference between bluntly stating an opinion and sharing an idea or suggestion you have thought through carefully. make sure that what you say makes sense, and always be open to what others say. you may have overlooked something crucial.
most of the time, people value a differing viewpoint, even though they may resist it at first. don’t take it too personally; they just need more time to get used to a new perspective.
do you have a burning question for dr rebel?