OK – so you’re the smartest person in the room

Okay – so you think you’re the smartest person in the room … no you know it! 

Every boardroom has a complement of people who think they are 'the smartest person in the room' and the corporate world floats on a sea of corporate disasters - each of which were inflated with hubris and a common feature - a lack of humility.

The thing is - that there are so very many ways to look at 'smart' - but the only way to guarantee you are being 'smart' is to put 'smart' under scrutiny.  Unfortunately, it is generally the case that those who think they are the smartest in the room won’t do that. 

Some features of this deluded personality – often seen in parables such as ‘The Emperor has no clothes’ – is that they don’t like to be challenged, they shut down discussion, they use collective humiliation along the lines of ‘you’re either on this bus, or you get off’.  However, when the proverbial hits the fan, generally these people are the first in the lifeboats, leaving the clean-up to everyone else.  Does this remind you of anyone? … a few current and has been leaders!

If you think you are the smartest then that’s the time to start asking some humility inducing questions – why is no-one challenging me?  What behaviours make it difficult for others to engage with me?  What might I be missing?  Why do I think that?  Are my views based on my own assumptions or facts?

Those who think they are the smartest usually have one very strong skill (salesperson, finance, or networking ) that has got them to a privileged position, where they now think that rivers of gold flow from their every utterance.  I’ve seen these people come down very hard when they make absolute rookie mistakes in a discipline they know nothing about.  Think climate change luddites, fossil fuel, tobacco.  Many however, get very senior before (if ever) being called out.  Along the way they leave chaos behind them and they rarely leave a worthy legacy.

Some quick ways to make sure that your smarts don’t get in the way and that you leave behind a legacy worth leaving.

• W.A.I.T. – ‘Why am I talking’ – understand why you’re talking and the value you think it might add – question if you have the knowledge you need to express this opinion

• Assess - Have a critical mentor who can give you the hard and honest truth

• Seek - State your opinion and actively ask for opinions from others

• Knowledge - Before making any decision ask for insights from professionals in the area

• Respect - Show respect for others and actively ask the right questions

• Perspective - Try seeing the discussion from another perspective and playing devil’s advocate

• Reflect – on the real value you are adding

Your board needs you and it needs you to have insight and humility.