Know-it-All Coworker
Posted on January 31, 2013 by Om Prakash, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
Ask Dr. Prakash Fourm
Question:
I have this coworker that is a know-it-all. He is very difficult to work with and is just not a team player. How do I reach out to him as his attitude is hurting team morale?
Dr. Prakash:
Your coworker is the type of person who is highly insecure and has a need to establish secure boundaries for themselves and to be recognized. These qualities enable them to project the image of a know-it-all. By acknowledging these traits you can put them to work for the team. For example, giving them the task to gather data and report it to the boss will satisfy their need to be recognized and open them to incorporate diverse ideas to forge a team approach. This will help the team and satisfy your coworker’s personal need. This approach will also help them to realize that other people can have good ideas. Hopefully, this experience will overcome their need for recognition and enable them to feel secure in their position.
