I just learned I'm more educated than my boss

[Ambrose]

I just learned that I am more educated than my boss. My boss has a high school diploma and I have a college degree, plus a law degree near finished. I've been noticing that she is extremely self-conscious now and acts angrily around me because I think she fears my intelligence. I HATE IT!!

People told me to watch out because she's in a position as a city manager, but only has a high school education. I have this advanced education and can understand things like the city budget, planning, etc. much better than she can, but she's the boss. It's an extremely frustrating situation to be in for this reason--anytime I offer suggestions which I'm required to do, she immediately gets defensive thinking that I'm "not being a team player" or being arrogant or something.

Can I help it that I decided to go to law school and have done well with it and it gives me another knowledge base from which to draw?

Any suggestions on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated!

[bigboom]

i think thats the case in a lot of things...but you still have to respect the education that experience brings. experience is something no amount of schooling will teach anyone.

[paiger81]

Originally posted by Ambrose
Can I help it that I decided to go to law school and have done well with it and it gives me another knowledge base from which to draw?


I agree with the above poster. Just cause you have a law degree, does not mean you have better knowledge than your manager. If you are going around with an attitude that you are more knowledgeable, then I don't blame your manager for being defensive.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

People told me to watch out because she's in a position as a city manager, but only has a high school education.

I think Ambrose's problem is more this lady's chip on her shoulder, rather than his attitude problem.

[WeirdBrake]

Ambrose... you're in a tough situation, my friend. I know as 3Ls, we've come to think of law school as nothin' special, but you'd be surprised how many people get prickly and defensive around law students and lawyers and how threatened they can be. It's like there's a "presumption of arrogance," even when we're absolutely not. So we have to work extra hard to prove to everyone that we're not arrogant.

Remind yourself that this job of yours is temporary. Put your boss at ease with some self-deprecating humor. Hedge your advice with some endearing uncertainty and charming humility-- the kind that ex-journalist Stephen Glass was supposedly very good at. Your boss should become less defensive with time.

Yes, this is an absurd situation, but that's what I'd recommend to do.

[shinyleaf]

I'm not surprised your boss is defensive, Ambrose. She probably does realize that you come with fresh and new ideas while she is possibly stuck in the same old routine of "best practice" that has been the standard for years. I see this all the time, someone gets bumped into management because they've been in the same cushy industry or company since high school, so they've "put in their time" and are therefore promoted. Don't even get me started on union-based promotions. Sure, they may work great for that company... how is anyone there to know any better until a new (updated via education) perspective rolls in? That said, the only way to make your good ideas fly in an environment like that is to be consciously NON threatening to the people already there. Try and compliment them on their contributions, and they'll be more likely to see you as a "team player", and listen to your advice. tricky business

[shinyleaf]

Originally posted by WeirdBrake
Ambrose... you're in a tough situation, my friend. I know as 3Ls, we've come to think of law school as nothin' special, but you'd be surprised how many people get prickly and defensive around law students and lawyers and how threatened they can be. It's like there's a "presumption of arrogance," even when we're absolutely not. So we have to work extra hard to prove to everyone that we're not arrogant.

Remind yourself that this job of yours is temporary. Put your boss at ease with some self-deprecating humor. Hedge your advice with some endearing uncertainty and charming humility-- the kind that ex-journalist Stephen Glass was supposedly very good at. Your boss should become less defensive with time.

Yes, this is an absurd situation, but that's what I'd recommend to do.

makes you wary of even listing those letters behind your name doesn't it? And DAMN, those letter were hard to get!