Dealing with managers who know everything

There are managers who know everything, and they are undoubtedly very hard to deal with.

Managers who know everything may hire you because “they do not have time”, or need more data, or in order  to carry out change under the artillery coverage of an OD project.

The first task is to try and understand the reason for your service being commissioned.

I will share 3 things I have found somewhat useful in dealing with managers who know everything.

1) Try and focus on the future. No one really knows all that much about the future. Even the omnipotent know-it-all may show some humility when the discussion is future focused.

2) On certain limited issues, stand your ground and label differences as “disagreements”. You will get push back, which is the time to then focus on the issue: “do I need to agree with you on everything”, here and now.

3) Where possible,  don’t get involved trying to prevent a fire; wait till  things get really bad. Even managers who know it all are more flexible when massive dysfunction heads their way.

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One thought on “Dealing with managers who know everything

  1. Yep! That will work. Sometimes, the relationship allows for both of us, manager and myself, to share at deeper personal level. When life sends over my way such a gift, it is easier for both of us to open up. This mutuality of two human beings living out their lives in the background fear of being found out as “imperfect”, “not-having-all-the-answers”, or using John Scherer’s work, trying to be seen as while avoiding at all cost being revealed as (put your own epithets, is such freeing moment.
    Lévis

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