Aren't I Smart and Aren't They Stupid?

Oftentimes listening to someone complain about the dumbness of others is a bonding exercise. What would you suggest as a replacement? Sure, it's easy to say "excuse me" each time your colleagues start gossiping (which could be all the time, by the way), but what if you're just isolating yourself and setting yourself as "above gossip" (aka above your own colleagues)?

Ben T - very insightful comments. Thank you.

Bravo, Mr. Goldsmith!

I have learned a few things about "dumb people" in business. 1) The dumb thing your boss did is something your boss was made to do by upper management, and your boss thinks it's dumb too. But you might not want to bring up the subject. 2) When a whole organization endorses a backward, outdated, or poorly-argued practice or procedure, it's not because they're all dummies. It's because there's a well-protected bully among them. This especially applies to "talking points" involving poor straw man arguments. 3) Take a look around you and watch what is rewarded, and what it punished. Are the opinions of your colleagues shaped by a coping strategy for living with these rewards and punishments? Sooner or later you must decide if you can live with what they live with. You are responsible for your own relationship to "dumb" and "smart".

This reminds me of a story my father told me when I was young. After serving in the Navy during World War II, my father installed linoleum floors during the day and went to school at night to become a Mechanical Engineer. Upon graduating, he went to work for a small tool and die company. He started with three other recent graduates who were all told that they were on a probationary period. After six months, one would be selected to stay on with the company. Each day, during lunch, one particular "old timer" would share stories about the job with the newbie’s. At first, the stories were new and interesting but, after some time, became old. Often, the "old timer" would repeat himself. One by one, the other three newbies drifted off until only my father was having lunch with him. I asked my father why he would keep listening. Smiling, my father replied, "Yes, he certainly did repeat himself a lot, but everyday he'd say at least one thing he didn't say before...something important. His stories helped me to become a better engineer, and I was grateful." At the end of the probationary period, my father was selected and stayed with the company for almost forty years until his retirement. My father was an amazing Dad, man, and engineer. The lesson my father taught me was simple. Whenever you think you've heard it all before, that you think you have all the answers, keep your mouth shut and listen. If you listen at least twice as much as you speak, you'll learn something; about yourself and others. - from "A Lifetime Working with Idiots & How to Survive". Visit: www.workingwithidiots.net