Just who is the smartest guy in the room?
Just who is the smartest guy in the room? (male or female definitions apply)
There are two types of smart guy in the room; the guy who is the smartest and the guy who is trying to be the smartest.
Is |
Trying to be |
Leads with questions | Leads with answers |
Makes people think | Creates defence and attack response in others |
Knows he knows nothing (is open to being wrong) | Believes he knows everything / knows best |
Takes the work but not himself seriously | Has delusions of grand importance |
Hears what is not being said and calls it – creates perspective. | Pounces on the superficial and gets sucked in, loses perspective. |
Exudes humanity | Justifies own opinion |
Makes others feel good about their contribution | Squashes counter opinion |
Has given up the right to be right | Is right / everyone else is wrong |
Creates allies | Creates opposition (though they will likely be covert – even worse) |
Highlight those that apply and course correct accordingly. No one is all one or the other column.