I’m Not The Smartest Person In The Room

I’m never the smartest person in the room, whether it’s a meeting room, a virtual space, a waiting room, or even my own dining room. That is unless I’m alone, and even then, self-doubt kicks in.

Realizing I’m not “the smartest person” in any room, in a world that praises ‘rock stars’ and produces lists of the “best of the best” in professional fields (’30 under 30,’ anyone?), can be intimidating and, at times, trigger my imposter syndrome.

Let me be brutally honest… if you’re reading this, you’re likely not the smartest person in the room either.

Nevertheless, there’s a silver lining.

Coming to terms with this reality can be liberating. Once you take that pressure off your back, your intellectual capital can be put to work on the answers to these questions:

How can I become smarter? How can I help others become smarter? And more importantly, how can I help improve the outcome of an enterprise?

Be a Better Collaborator

Collaboration requires generosity and openness, and when done in the right context, it can yield powerful results. By improving collaboration skills, we can become smarter, help others become smarter, and consequently, have a positive impact on overall results.

Improving collaboration skills should not be confused with a diminished competitive spirit. On the contrary, being a great collaborator can be your competitive advantage.

I’ve compiled a list of habits that have helped me improve my collaboration skills. This is not intended to be a definitive list or an ‘ultimate guide to being a great collaborator’. It’s simply my collaborative self, offering my perspective with the hope that it inspires more and better collaboration.

Some Habits to Become a Better Collaborator:

• Ask Meaningful Questions:Make the goal of your questions be to surface the meaning of each idea. Purposeful curiosity can help uncover valuable insights and assist others in clarifying their thoughts.

• Listen and Observe with an Open Mind:Actively pay attention to what is being communicated and observe without letting pre-existing assumptions or judgments influence your perception. Be receptive and willing to consider new information.

• Synthesize:Try to connect diverse perspectives. What does it all mean? Can it be articulated in a simpler or more succinct way without losing its meaning?

• Provide Useful Feedback:Feedback is essential for continuous improvement in a collaborative setting. Develop the habit of providing feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on improvement.

• Be an Active Participant:Collaboration is a two-way street. Being an active participant means offering your ideas or suggestions for improvements to others’ ideas. Don’t hold back. While you’re not the smartest person in the room, you are still smart enough to be in the room!

• Be Accountable:Make it a habit to take responsibility for your actions and decisions. This not only builds trust but also sets a standard for accountability.

As with all habits, they require practice and consistency. Applying these habits has been transformative for me. Take the ones that you feel work for you and make them your own as you embark on a path to becoming a better collaborator (if you come up with new or better habits, please share!).

Thanks for reading.