Sometimes being right isn’t enough. Sometimes people make a point of being right and thinking they are right about everything. I’d say “We’ve all met the type of person before…” but then I’d be reading your mind so I’ll get started witht he article.
‘Winning the battle, but loosing the war’, ‘Pyrrhic Victory’, and ‘Being a Know it All’ all fall into the same category of unlikability.
I’ve recently worked with one such individual, who has made a point of making himself appear to know more than anyone else. He’d argue with me and those around him not because he was right, but because he demanded everyone acknowledge he was right and superior in knowledge than him — Despite having a complete lack of knowledge or experience in the areas in question.
I would cite exact incidents, but as it relates to current projects, I find myself bound by ethics to hold back.
Needless to say, the person in question made a great show of grandstanding his ability to sell and generate revenue. He spent a significant amount of time doing this for prospective clients and spent even more time pursuing leads in a method that many, many people would consider ‘out-moded’. While I give him this, he is courteous, kind, and polite with people, once you stray into technical details or personal experience, his one-up-you ability kicks on and starts to annoy.
To this day, he is yet to close a sale on his own.
Twice now, he has managed to get himself cut from easy sales because of his inability to stop trying to out-do the customer and talk himself right out of an easy sale.
Lesson Learned
Don’t be too smart for your own good. You could end up cutting off your own nose.
