It’s ok to not be the smartest person in the room. Sometimes it’s even better.
Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash
I recently went to a workshop at which all of the women in room were superstars: scientists, lawyers, and leaders in healthcare with VP or C-Suite titles, many of whom had started their own companies, capitalized on patents, etc. It was intimidating, to the point where I felt like I didn’t even know how to form a complete sentence much less have a conversation with anyone. But as the workshop continued, I realized what a privileged situation I was in. I was surrounded by people who had more knowledge than me, and they were excited to share their experiences. I noticed how they were also comfortable asking questions to fill in the gaps in their own knowledge. We spent the next two days asking each other and the workshop leaders so many questions that the workshop leaders said we were by far the most engaged cohort they ever had. I came home from that workshop feeling like a little kid after their first day in kindergarten; I had learned so much, and had so many positive and engaging conversations with really wonderful people. Rather than merely sitting in discomfort, I learned how to move through it and, as a result, I benefitted from the expertise and curiosity of those around me.
Many in academia feel a constant pressure to show just how smart and accomplished they are, precisely because our academic institutions and funding agencies reward the best ideas and the most accomplishments with promotions and funding. Showing a lack of knowledge or expertise in an area can make you feel really vulnerable. But, not getting comfortable with this discomfort can backfire. It can lead to a reluctance to ask questions and to make connections with new peers. These behaviours will leave you stuck and will ultimately hamper your own growth.
Finding opportunities to surround yourself with people who know more than you do about something can be an ideal way to spark new growth. You level up your own knowledge, you hear other perspectives, and you see different ways to solve problems. When you get exposure to new areas of knowledge that are complementary to your own, it can spark new creative ideas or lead to fruitful collaborations in which everyone has a well-defined and critical role. In fact, one of my mentors told me that surrounding himself with people who knew more than him was key to his success as a leader of a University-wide initiative. He brought together the best of the best. In his words, he ‘deliberately chose to be the dumbest person in the room.’ As a leader, he saw his role not as the person who does all of the things, but as the one who removes barriers so that the experts could get to work doing what they do best. It wasn’t in his best interest to be the smartest person in the room; in fact, the initiative likely wouldn’t have been successful if he had purposefully picked only those people who were not at his level in stature or knowledge. He saw the collection of experts in the room as a valuable resource, not as competition.
This same principle applies even when you're not in a leadership role, particularly if you are an early career academic. Choosing to learn from experts around you can be one of the most powerful accelerators of growth. Instead of wallowing in feelings of discomfort, insecurity, and imposter syndrome, you can proactively make the most of the opportunity that you’ve been given. First, listen and absorb as much information as you can about what others know and how they think. Second, ask questions! People do enjoy sharing their expertise and their thought processes. Be engaged: seek out further conversations with people you’ve connected with and who can challenge your own thinking. Finally, recognize that you bring value to the room as well. You have your own lived experiences and areas of knowledge that others can learn from.
Being surrounded by people who shine doesn’t dim your own light—it helps you see farther. The goal isn’t to be the smartest person in the room; it’s to be the kind of person who values others and never stops learning.
If you’re navigating rooms full of experts and feeling hopelessly out of place, you’re not alone. I help early-career academics build confidence and clarity in high-pressure environments. Let’s connect—book a discovery call here.
Next week: It’s ok to take a day off.
