Should Your Subordinate Be Smarter Than You?

There has been a general, unspoken wisdom passed down through the ages. It is an unwritten rule that influences hiring, and is at the bottom of all office politics, regardless of industry or geographic location.

The rule is: NEVER hire anyone smarter than you.

The reason that rule is never spoken, is because it points out our insecurity and self-centered logic. It is an acknowledgment of the fear that a smarter person serving under us will reveal flaws in our practices, and disturb our status quo. Worse, it may disturb our ascension into the realms of middle and upper management. Our subordinate may actually spring ahead of us, and take that position we had coveted for so very long.

This is the instant logical crisis that confronts any supervisor or manager who has been charged with the task of hiring a new employee. After all, this is a competition, a race to be first. This is self-preservation at its finest. It is the most basic instinct at the core of mankind. The only problem is, our instincts are horrible.

The truth is, competence is never a threat. In fact, when people throw around the now passé term "diversity", they are actually looking for competence. This is the same mistake business has always made. When they brought in a college-educated greenhorn in the 50's, they were looking for a "fresh set of eyes". They were still looking for competence, and they may or may not have found it. Diversity or an education only works if you can apply your unique point of view to the problems that are being solved. Please note that I am not making a case for, or against, diversity or an education. I am merely argument that without the ability to apply the lessons learned, your education or unique cultural background make little or no difference.

So, why should you hire someone smarter than you? Well, for starters, it makes you look good. This was actually brought up by an acquaintance of mine that attends my local church. As a team leader at his company, he is in charge of various projects. He always brings in the most talented people he can find to work for him. In many cases they have far more ability than he does. His projects turn out well. He benefits from the praise of upper management, and shares the credit with his team.

This next reason will depend largely on how you treat the employees entrusted to your care, so examine your management style as you read. What if I told you it was to your benefit for your employees to be promoted ahead of you? Don't you want to have a say with upper management, to have your name brought up in discussions for promotion? If you hire exceptional people, and treat them well, promotion will not be far off. Even if they are promoted ahead of you, they will still recognize your leadership skills, and bring you along. "A rising tide lifts all boats", is more than a cute saying. It is simple statement of a deeper and more complex truth. Be warned. This is a long term strategy. If you expect it to pay off in the short term, then you will be badly disappointed.

Lastly, let me answer another fear expressed in the opening paragraphs. What if they expose your incompetence in an area? While painful, this is a good thing. By showing you the weaknesses you possess, they give you a chance to grow and learn from them. Your employees will improve you by committee, and drag you face-first into the place you need to be professionally.

Now that you have had your fears allayed(or perhaps, confirmed), the question remains: Do you have the courage to do this? If you aren't up for the challenge, then I suggest you keep your inferiors...inferior. If you are, then put down your ego, and give it a preemptive smashing. It will prepare you for the road ahead.

About the Author

Kurt Hartman has experience in many business fields, including retail, wholesale, and E-Commerce. Currently, he holds a position as an OTR analyst with a firm that sells giant tires.

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Useful Innovative Internet Marketing Resources

Are you currently looking for new and exciting ways to get your business out into the eye of the general public? If so, there is an excellent chance that you are looking for new and innovative ways to market your business. If so, do you know where you can find those ideas? If you are unsure where you should start looking, you may be pleased to know that you have a number of different options.

When it comes to finding innovative Internet marketing ideas, one of the first places that you should look is online. Online, you will find a number of resources; resources that can provide you with updated information on innovative Internet marketing. You can often find these resources, which tend to be online websites or online business journals, by performing a standard Internet search. What is nice about the Internet is that it is quick and easy to use. This means that you could, literally, search through hundreds of Internet marketing ideas, all in a few hours!

In addition to using the Internet, you may also want to search for innovative Internet marketing ideas in print. One of the best ways to do this is to examine printed business journals or printed business magazines. These are similar to the above mentioned online business journals, just they are in printed form. If you are interested in receiving the latest information on Internet marketing, it may be a good idea to buy a subscription to a number of business magazines or business journals. Most of these magazines and journals come out on a monthly basis, although some will come out on a weekly basis. For a reasonable fee, you can have innovative Internet marketing ideas and strategies delivered directly to your door!

You are also urged to check out your local book stores. Book stores are home to millions of different books, many of which are business books that have a focus on marketing. The only downside to using your local book store, to search for innovative Internet marketing ideas, is that that some of the books that you may find may be considered old or outdated. That is why, when buying an Internet marketing book, you should pay close attention to the publishing date. In fact, it may even be a good idea to keep an eye out for newly released books. These books are the best way to find up-to-date Internet marketing ideas for you and your business. It is also important to note that you may also be able to find printed business journals and magazines for sale at your local book store.

It may also be a good idea to examine the selection of books that can be found in your local library. As with your local book store, it is important that you keep an eye on book publishing dates, especially if you are only looking for new, innovative Internet marketing ideas. In most cases, you will find that the books found inside your library are a little bit outdated, but, depending on your library, it may also be possible to find newly released books. Since most libraries are free to use, it wouldn't hurt to give your local library a try. If you do not find what you are looking for, you can also try the Internet or one of your local book stores.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about familiarizing yourself with innovative Internet marketing strategies. With most options being relatively easy and low-cost, you are advised to start searching. In all honesty, what do you have to lose?

About the Author

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