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How to Work with Stupid People

I write a lot about being smart and trying not to be stupid. Well, here’s a good post by Jason Crawford on how to work with stupid people. It’s not what you’d expect.

He takes a line of thinking I really like:

I consider myself reasonably intelligent, yet I have had no problem surrounding myself with people at or above my intellectual level. I’ve also had good relationships with co-workers at all levels of intelligence. Unless you’re a world-class genius (statistically unlikely), you are probably mis-diagnosing people as stupid.

He goes on to give excellent advice on rethinking how to behave when you’re in this situation.

In the comments I offered this:

The problem here is more psychological and emotional than intellectual. Not to assume the other guy is stupid means you have to be willing to acknowledge the stupid guy might be you. Which is something most people do not have the generosity, courage or patience to explore, even for 30 seconds. (How else will you ever learn anything?)

Read the full article here: How to work with stupid people