Geeks are the smart ones. It’s the one thing we have. All other strengths we may lack. We may not be good looking, athletic, or sociable, but we have really huge brains. Our intellect is our asset. We develop it, use it, show it off, and work miracles with it every day. Yes, our minds make us a bit awkward and weird, but that’s okay. Being normal is boring.

There is, however, a down side to having a big noggin. Sometimes, we use it as a weapon. Before I describe how this works in the professional environment, let’s go back to the playground.

From playground to cubical

When I was a kid, I was much smaller than most of my peers. If I was invited to join a game of kick ball, my position on the team would have been the ball. Not getting beat-up was a primary objective that was always on my mind. Speaking intelligently with speed and articulation was usually a surefire way to befuddle a bully and make an escape.

Let’s fast-forward to my early professional career. To survive and advance as an engineer, I needed to establish technical credibility by expressing my know-how on various subjects. I could explain IP subnetting, Active Directory replication topologies, and the Diffie-Hellman key exchange. The quickest way to rise to highest level of engineering was to become the smartest person in my company in a given technical domain.

More than intelligence

This is how it works. It’s not about tenure, charisma, good looks, or education. Do you know your stuff and how to apply it? That’s it. Or is it? In this battle of intellects, sometimes geeks get overly competitive or defensive. Sometimes we use our intellect to silence the noobs that don’t have a clue. When we feel powerless, backed into a corner, or otherwise challenged, a witty response that conveys superior knowledge will put us back on top.

What a reversal. It’s odd, really. The very geeks that were bullied as kids become bullies themselves with their know-it-all attitude. This is very destructive to a culture. I recently recounted some of Microsoft’s journey on this subject. CEO, Satya Nadella, pledged to change their culture from a bunch of know-it-all’s and become a bunch of learn-it-all’s.

From smart geek to geek leader

For geeks, intellect isn’t enough anymore. Sure, it got you where you are, but you will fail if you don’t add to that empathy and humility. It takes wisdom to know when to wield your intellect and when to holster it and listen instead.

If you want to be seen as a leader, don’t be tower of knowledge. Instead, pass it on. Also, always be willing to be dumb again. Sure, you worked hard not to be dumb in your subject-matter, but what happens when your knowledge isn’t relevant anymore? Start over and learn something new. It’s humbling but necessary to continue the development process.

You are a geek. Be super-smart. We need your tsunami-sized brain waves to achieve our mission. We also need your listening ear, your humble attitude, and your empathetic heart. Knowing when to use your intellect is just as important as knowing when to keep it firmly sheathed in its scabbard.