Lessons In Business. #Knowledge
My Dad told me once “If you are the smartest person in the room - you're in the wrong room.” Of course, as wise as my Dad was, he can’t claim this gem. In fact, everyone from Confucious to Marissa Mayer (former Yahoo CEO) has been credited as the source; but who said it first is irrelevant.
The philosophy of Mayer is what I like. In college, she was given the choice of joining the varsity team, where she would sit on the bench for the year, or join junior varsity, where she would start every game.
She shocked everyone and chose varsity. The next year she came back as a senior, made varsity again and was a starter. The rest of the players who had been on junior varsity were benched for their entire senior year. So why did she choose to be the weakest player for the stronger team? She knew if she got to practice and play alongside the best players every day, it would make her better and she would learn more. And that’s what can happen in the professional workplace if you choose the right team.
Mayer went on to become the CEO of Yahoo.
Surrounding yourself with smarter people encourages you to up your game, and surrounding yourself with a smart team leads to a high-functioning culture. And that’s a great place to work.
Smart people challenge your thoughts, ideas and concepts. Smart people know where the good stuff is, where to network, they respect the value of kindness and generosity and this filters through to your culture. Personally, I think smart people don’t hold grudges - they move forward, choosing to listen, to seek out knowledge, they’re engaged in the now, they’re interested in the world around them, and they’re socially and professionally successful.
My career in marketing has spanned from linear, to broadcast and now digital and I strive to ensure my team is smarter than me. I never dismiss their opinions or any person based on assumption. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been completely wrong about someone. Be open and engaged with everyone around you. Someone very smart once told me “You have two ears and one mouth, use them in that order.”
Listen.
At the end of the day, someone will always be smarter than you, prettier than you, fitter than you, thinner than you, wealthier than you.
It’s up to you to choose who’s in your room.