Good leaders don’t try to be the smartest person in the room

By Brigette Hyacinth

It’s said there are two rules that should be accepted working under a boss. The rule no. 1 is the boss is always right. The rule number 2 states that if the boss is wrong, then, refer to the rule number 1. The fact is that a manager may not be right always. Most people feel the need to be right all the time. I’ve seen strong companies fail at the hands of a boss who was unwilling to accept others’ skills and ideas. When leaders accept that their role is not about having all the answers, a few things happen. They start to ask more questions, don’t take constructive criticism personally, and see things from a broader perspective.

As a leader, one of the most crucial skills is having the ability to admit you might not know the answer to every question. It’s okay to say, ‘I don’t know” or “I would need more input before I can make that decision?’ It is also important to delegate decision making with comments such as, ” Let me know what you think, I trust your judgement.”

    “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” -Steve Jobs

As much as people love smart people and someone they can rely on for guidance, no one likes a know it all person. Leaders who show some vulnerability are more authentic and approachable to their team. Employees will want to provide feedback and share ideas because they know it will not fall on deaf ears. In the end, you have a more engaged productive team, who feel valued and appreciated.

Working for a boss who needs to be always right can be very frustrating and demotivating. Such bosses don’t give employees opportunities to grow and develop and they resort to micromanaging. Micromanagement is a complete waste of everybody’s time. It sucks the life out of employees, fosters anxiety and creates a high stress work environment. In the end, smart people don’t stay for too long in these companies.

With advances in technology and unprecedented levels of change, leaders will need to draw on the diversity and expertise of everyone in the room. This can be the difference between success and failure. Ultimately, your aim as a leader is to drive growth and innovation by surrounding yourself with a diverse team, who has complimentary skills to yours. This takes humility and wisdom. Select the right people, provide them with the proper tools and get out their way!