If you suspect you sometimes act like a know-it-all at work, chances are you're right. Maybe you’ve noticed your coworker's eyes roll when you explain something at a meeting. Or perhaps you've realized that people seem uncomfortable every time you take the floor. Worse yet, a colleague told you directly that your behavior is bothering the team. Now you're left wondering, “How do I stop being a know-it-all?”
Most of the time, people don't realize they're behaving like this—and very few actually do it on purpose. Your intention is probably to help or share an interesting fact with others. Yet this behavior can come across as annoying and even drive people away, especially at work, where it might feel like you’re trying to embarrass or undermine others.
If you want to get back in your coworkers’ good graces, read on to learn how to stop being a know-it-all at work.
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What is a “know-it-all” at work?
A know-it-all is a person who has—or acts like they have—an answer for everything. They always feel compelled to share their knowledge, even when no one asks, and often correct others and dismiss their opinions and ideas.
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So, how to know if you're a know-it-all? If you're always taking an opportunity to display your knowledge on a subject and correct others, you might be one. “Some behaviors that could come across as being a know-it-all at work are taking more than your fair share of air time in meetings, as well as making statements more than asking curious questions,” says Annie Nogg, a Muse career coach and founder of Annie Nogg Coaching LLC.
Some examples of typical know-it-all phrases are:
- Well, actually…
- It's common knowledge that…
- I know a lot more about this topic than most people because…
- Let me explain to you why/how it actually is…
- It's so obvious…
How to stop being a know-it-all at work
Here are eight tips that can help you stop being a know-it-all at work and develop a better relationship with your coworkers:
1. Understand that you don’t know everything
Have you ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger Effect? This is a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate their knowledge in a specific area; we each have a lack of self-awareness that prevents us from accurately assessing our own knowledge. The result: The more you believe you know about something, the less you actually do.
Keep this in mind moving forward and understand that it doesn't matter how passionate you are about your job or how long you work in an industry, you truly don't know everything. Your coworker's input and knowledge also matter—and that's why they were hired.
2. Accept that you may be wrong sometimes
Even a know-it-all gets it wrong sometimes. You may be so used to being (or acting like you're) the most knowledgeable person in the room, that you don't realize when you make a mistake. When that happens, take a breath and quickly own your mistake gracefully. Thank whoever pointed it out and move on—instead of offering an explanation as to why you thought you were right.
3. Ask yourself why you’re behaving this way
Acting like the smartest person all the time can come from a place of insecurity. You may feel like this is the way to prove you're important and valuable at your job. Or perhaps you think this behavior makes you look cooler or more intelligent than you actually are.
Look inward and ask yourself why you behave this way—maybe you'll find out that you need to develop your self-confidence and reduce your need for external validation. Or maybe you need to find better and more productive ways to show your value and how much you contribute to your work.
4. Ask questions instead of correcting people
In some instances, a coworker will be wrong or mention a procedure you're not sure is correct. Instead of straight-out correcting them, ask questions that could lead both of you in the right direction. “You can change this [know-it-all] behavior by leaning into your curiosity and learning mode,” Nogg says. “Get curious, ask questions, and focus on listening.”
For example, instead of replying with, “Well, actually…” you could ask, “Why do you believe that?” or “Is this a new procedure/policy?” or even “What about…?”
5. Put yourself in your coworker's shoes
Would you like to be corrected or lectured about something in front of your boss or your colleagues? Probably not, right? Think about how uncomfortable and embarrassed you'd feel being in this position. That's probably how your colleagues feel as well. So, every time you feel the urge to interrupt someone and publicly correct them, think about it.
6. Substitute “actually” for qualifiers
It’s time to remove “actually” from your vocabulary, and replace it with “perhaps,” “I believe,” and “I think.” This will help your sentences land smoothly and less arrogant than they would if you said “Well, actually…” or “You're wrong.”
7. Practice reading the room
It’s easy to get so carried away when talking about a topic we're passionate about that we don't realize no one else is interested. If you tend to take more than your fair share of time to speak in work meetings, practice being less inside your own world and pay attention to your coworker's expressions and level of engagement. If they look bored, distracted, or annoyed, this is your cue to stop.
8. Let people be wrong sometimes
If there's no real consequence to a coworker being wrong, let them be. For example, let's say someone is telling this story about when they saw the Oscar-nominated movie 1917 and got really emotional with the World War II storyline. You know that 1917 is actually about World War I because you're a world-history nerd, but there's nothing harmful about your colleague being wrong about it. They probably just forgot or mistook it for another movie. So, let it go.
Bottom line: Stop being a know-it-all at work—seriously
Changing your behavior is not about changing your personality to please others; it's about cultivating good relationships and protecting your professional image. “Being a know-it-all at work could result in negative or damaged work relationships and a not-so-flattering reputation in the workplace,” Nogg says.
These changes might be hard at first, especially if you've been displaying know-it-all behavior for a long time—but they’re worth trying. After all, there's nothing negative about becoming a more pleasant person to be around, especially at work, where being liked can be just as important as being efficient and talented.