Minute With Mallon: Think-They-Know-It-Alls!
Welcome to Minute with Mallon!
Something I Taught:
Part of my job when coaching my clients is to help them handle certain types of personalities more effectively. In a previous newsletter I helped you understand how to handle Tanks – people who are very strong and powerful and who tend to "roll" over people around them. Click the link above to learn more about how to handle them. 👆
Today we’re going to discuss how to handle the “Think-They-Know-It-Alls!”
These people differ from know-it-alls in that they don’t know it all! 🤣
In many cases, such individuals are overcompensating for feelings of insecurity and inadequacy by forthrightly making assertions that don’t add up. They might be masking feelings of mediocrity with this behavior or may even be in denial about the limitations of their intellectual abilities.
Key characteristics so you can spot them in the wild: 🐒
● Their information comes from "dubious sources."
● They stretch the truth, start rumors, and many times gossip.
● They use generalizations, i.e. "Harry was let go last Friday. It's just the beginning. I heard 10% will be let go in the next month!"
● Because of these tendencies, we never know if they're telling the truth.
So how do you deal with this type of person?
Ask for specifics:
"Did you see that?" "Where did you read this?" "Is there a third party that can substantiate this?" (They can't answer these types of questions. The real know-it-all can!)
Use third-party documentation. (Ask others about the situation, etc.)
Reward them when they are accurate!
Concerning point 3 above: 👆
James Clear, in his work on behavior change, states: "The Cardinal Rule of Behavior Change: What gets rewarded, gets repeated. What gets punished, gets avoided."
Similarly, Charlie Munger emphasizes this idea by saying, "The iron rule of nature is: you get what you reward for."
By implementing these approaches, you can foster more constructive interactions and help guide think-they-know-it-alls towards more authentic and informed communication.
Hope that helps!
Something to Ponder:
"Calmness is a Superpower"
Roy McAllister
Something I Learned:
Do you know people who regularly put people down? I learned this concept years ago and still find it valuable when looking for an explanation for this kind of behavior:
Tall poppy syndrome refers to a social phenomenon where people criticize or resent individuals who have achieved notable success, prominence, or excellence in some area. The term is often used in countries like Australia and New Zealand to describe the cultural tendency to cut down those who stand out from the crowd in order to keep everyone on an equal level. It can manifest as jealousy, gossip, or attempts to undermine the successful person. The term originates from the idea of cutting down tall poppies that grow higher than the rest.
Understanding this concept is crucial, as it highlights the importance of fostering environments that celebrate accomplishments rather than undermining them, thereby promoting personal growth and societal progress.
If you see someone in your workplace who regularly does this, you may want to pick that plant and throw it away. 🌷
Something I Saw:
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Hope you have an incredible week!
Robert
