Dealing with the "Smartest" Guy in the Room

A strategy for dealing with the big brain

"He likes to talk."

I remember thinking that, after some time, partway through a Zoom call in which a single individual dominated the discussion with a dozen others. It felt oppressive at a certain point. He was sharp, really sharp, but it was easy to spot that this guy just couldn't stop himself.

It got me to thinking about what might strategies might exist for dealing with this kind of person. Are there verbal spike strips one can use to stop or slow someone who just keeps speaking?

Moreover, strategic decision-making tends to draw in this kind of person and so encounters with this type become more likely as you practice as a strategist. If you’re in the strategic river, your boat’s probably going to bump into this sort of crocodile.