The Politics of the Workplace

When you’re smarter than the boss

We’ve all been through it. You’re at a job reporting to a supervisor who knows less about the business than you do. In meetings, he mentions things unrelated to the discussion and makes suggestions that cause others to groan and roll their eyes.

If you believe that your boss is an incompetent drone in a suit, what should you do to improve the quality of your work life without committing self-sabotage?

“Produce exceptional work, but also ask for their feedback, so it appears that you care about [your boss] and their knowledge. This is especially important for getting a reference from them later or when trying to move into a new position or company,” says Dan Schawbel, a personal branding expert and author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, a book that targets Generation Y employees. He also advises employees against being perceived as “a know-it-all or someone who is superior to management” which can only harm a worker’s reputation.


Vinanti Sarkar Castellarin, producer and director, recounts an incident when she worked as a researcher in the research and development department at Columbia University. “The moment my boss learned that I had two MA degrees and working on an Ed.D., she felt very threatened,” she recalls. Her boss held the supervisory position despite having only a B.A. and proceeded to act out against Castellarin after being made aware of her subordinate’s advanced academic background. Castellarin was criticized and humiliated in every task even though she had helped raise 20 million in funds for the department.

“It was not a matter of feeling I was smarter than my boss, it was a feeling that my boss could have been a little smarter in using my academic knowledge,” she says. Castellarin currently works as producer and director at Global Cultural Diversity Films (GCDF).
Generally, all employees have something to gain in their work environment, even if they feel more competent than their supervisors. Rather than fighting the situation and getting frustrated, Schawbel suggests taking a backseat and looking for other people in the office to learn from. An employee can learn from the supervisor as much as the supervisor can learn from his or her employees. The work environment is a constant give and take.

Schawbel also points out that if an employee feels like they’re smarter and know more than others on the team, it’s a tell tale sign that they should be looking for a new position. While this isn’t always an option for many people, it’s always a good idea to realize your own potential within the confines of a very limiting work environment. Because in the end, if there is absolutely no opportunity for growth, why waste the energy proving your smarts if it can land you in hot water?

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For more articles from Ji Hyun Lee, please check out:

The Politics Series: The Politics of Facebook Friend Requests from Your Colleagues | The Politics of being a Woman on the Job: Why can’t we all just get along? | The Politics of Being Young on the Job: Managing the Kid Boss | The Politics of being cute on the job: Are you too Sexy for the Workplace? | The Politics of the bad boss | The Politics of Office Romance

The Lists:  Five Ways to Battle the Office Backstabber | Ten Signs that You Might be a Difficult Employee

Everything in between: Tips for managing the Millennial Generation | When You’re Smarter than the Boss | Knowing When to Speak Up and When Not to |Equal Work, Unequal Pay: What to do if You’re the Victim of Gender Discrimination

Do you need advice dealing with awful coworkers, bosses and other workplace issues? Find the author on Twitter @JiHyun42 or email, jihyunnyc@gmail.com, and tell her all about it. You could be featured in an upcoming article!

Tags: conflicting personalities, Gen X, micromanaging bosses, Millennial Generation
Posted in Bosses, Minority Issues | 5 Comments »