GUIDE
Egomaniacs
Know-it-Alls
Brimming with self-proclaimed bravado, the egomaniac vocally claims personal credit for all
team wins while deflecting accountability for losses onto individuals they view as less essen-
tial than themselves. Skilled at self-promotion, egomaniacs demand the spotlight whether
victories occur because of or in spite of their contributions while dismissing the vital efforts
of those they stepped on in pursuit of inflated status. Attempting debate with egomaniacs
proves fruitless.
Impact: By surrounding themselves with confirmation rather than counsel, egomaniacs in
leadership impair organizational judgment with an onslaught of biased, emotional knee-jerk
decisions fueled by ego rather than wisdom. Once resolved dissent and accountability struc-
tures collapse, stagnation sets in from the rot of misplaced self-belief, corroding efficient
business processes until catastrophe forces an overdue reckoning with reality.
All right let’s face it. We’ve all encountered at least one, or perhaps a couple, maybe even a
handful. For those who haven’t had the pleasure, know-it-alls are colleagues or supervisors
who believe they hold all the essential wisdom to make the finest choices. Typically, they
brush off others’ insights and display unwavering confidence in their grasp of intricate mat-
ters.
Impact: Disregarding diverse perspectives and concepts, Know-it-Alls could miss out on inno-
vative strategies and inventive techniques that might uplift the company. After all, banking
only on a single individual’s decisions may lead to prejudiced and ill-informed choices, poten-
tially putting a dent in the organization’s overall success. Moreover, having a smarty-pants in
the mix can really mess with work morale, making it tough for everyone to collaborate and
causing some serious side-eye between teammates.
85% of Employees are not engaged in the workplace, in
large part due to being dismissed, their input not being
recognized, or their efforts being undermined.
(haiilo.com, 2023)