7 Secrets in Communicating With Know It Alls Part 1 of 3 by Dianna Booher
Channel: Dianna Booher - Communication Strategist & Author
Date: 2013-05-31

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Executive Communication Expert Dianna Booher

You may have met these people.  They sit in the stands at sporting events and tell the rest of the fans what they did or didn't just see on the field.  These clients know more about how your business back office should operate than the boss.  These Know-It-Alls serve on committees and keep members deadlocked on decisions for days.  
Know-It-Alls take on a tone of authority to let those around them understand that they have the final, absolute, full truth.  Some Know-It-Alls convey their intelligence and discount yours by smiling condescendingly, shuffling papers, or changing the subject after you speak.  Others are less subtle; they simply tell you in no uncertain terms that they know more than you do about the topic at hand.  Sometimes Know-It-Alls really do know it all.  Others pretend.
If you're like me, you'd probably prefer to walk away from these people.  But in situations where you must communicate to complete a project, consider a few techniques that work well to relieve the pressure on Know-It-Alls to "prove themselves":
Real Know-It-Alls
• Respect and use their knowledge. Despite the Know-It-All's obnoxious communication style, his or her expertise can be beneficial.  Use it to your advantage in solving a problem.