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Ask HN: How do you work with a person who thinks they know more than they do?

2 points by ziffusion ↗ HN
It can become very hard to converge with such a person. They may argue too much for ideas that are not that good. They may not understand the alternatives too well. Their scope of knowledge may be limited.

Trying to converge "politely" can take way too long. And even so, they may end up accepting the alternatives grudgingly.

Just in case I sound condescending - I realize that in some contexts I myself may be this person.

How do you folks handle this?

4 comments

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fargle
Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
vagrantJin
Id laugh, take them to school and back.

But that won't help an emormous ego which may activate mental defence mechanisms. I believe we all have an internal self image that's a best version of ourselves. Some more than others.

I would suggest not being hostile.

jimmyvalmer
I am such an arrogant person, so here's how to deal with me: let me have my way, and gradually wean yourself off any projects involving me. Self-deluded know-it-all's like myself do not rise within the ranks and get pigeonholed. In the best possible case, we get fired, and that's what happened to me. Still trying to figure out what to do with my life.
fattybob
Yes, worked with a few similar and in the best situation they get moved on. However, i and all my then colleagues, I remember, were wuite shocked , literally, when one of the worst offenders I had ever worked with came back from a seriously observational management training course, the ones were they film your every interaction and then criticize you openly in groups, well, he cakes back a changed person, suddenly Mr nice guy and Mr positive in all ways, and he remained such for as long as I’ve known him since, seriously unbelievable, but those of us that witnessed that know it to be so. So, there always hope, even for the worst!