The problem with smart people

When you’re hiring, promoting, or just putting together your team, you’re told to __________ for the smartest people in the room, but intelligence is just one of those characteristics needed in the game.

For example, the former US energy trading company __________ its top talents to run some of its most-profitable divisions without supervision.

Though the management were known as the team of the smartest guys, this move didn’t turn __________ to be so smart. They took wild chances and lost billions of dollars which inevitably led to the company’s dissolution.

The problem with really smart people is that they often think they know more than everyone else, that they one step __________ of everyone else.

And when they think they know the right answer, they often can’t believe that everyone else doesn’t just see the same thing, and fall into __________. That doesn’t help them in trying to get others to buy whatever they’re selling, because, unfortunately, organisations don’t work that way.

And when they don’t have direct authority __________ peers they’re working with, the only way to bring them along toward their preferred outcome is to sell them the idea. Imposing their “superior” solution just doesn’t work.

The irony is sometimes the most talented person can make for one of the most __________ managers. In case of brainpower, more doesn’t always have to mean better.

For example, when employees are motivated to cycle through customers as fast as possible, words like the customer __________ first are just empty, cynical slogans.

It means nothing to sales staff and such strategy can actually detract from __________. On the other hand, an online shoe store rewards employees for spending more time with customers who call in with questions about products they are thinking of buying.

And let’s not forget the __________ effect that accompanies this culture. People who really care about service look for work where the company is interested in customer’s satisfaction and not fixed primarily on the profit.