Maybe you are tired of being easy to handle and want to become a know-it-all. On the other hand, you may have been called a "know-it-all", but you are not sure how to behave like one. A know-it-all is someone who claims to know everything and who always has the correct answer to every question. It can often be difficult to be around know-it-alls, but you can be one without being too annoying to others by trying to be nice. You can learn to be a know-it-all at school, work, and at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Become a nice know-it-all
Step 1. Gain the skills you need to be a know-it-all
To become one, you must be willing to learn and gain knowledge. You should focus on studying everyday knowledge carefully, which will become useful in daily life. This way, you can act like a helpful know-it-all around other people. For example, you could learn how to open a wine bottle or fix a broken toilet.
- You can also brush up on your knowledge of medical procedures, so you can be a know-it-all when an emergency occurs. For example, you could read about how to perform CPR or clean a wound.
- You could try to learn survival knowledge that can be helpful if you get stranded in the wild with friends (eg, how to make a stone ax or a simple stretcher).
Step 2. Be a friendly know-it-all
In order not to be an annoying know-it-all who irritates others around him, you should try to be friendly and kind when sharing your knowledge. Be open and friendly, and try to act nice when you tell someone what you know. This will make your know-it-all attitude less rude or obnoxious. Try to teach others how to do something right in a generous way and be a friendly know-it-all, rather than a pedantic one.
- You can appear friendly by displaying open body language, in which you maintain eye contact with others and keep your body relaxed, arms at your sides. You should also lean towards the person you are chatting with and have a friendly look on their face (preferably a smile).
- When giving smart-ass statements, you should use the first person and say something like "I think …" or "I think …". Even if you know that a statement is wrong, you will want to look nice to others and not very obnoxious or annoying. For example, you could say "I think this is the way to open a bottle of wine" or "I think this is the way to clean a wound."
Step 3. Be willing to admit when you don't know everything
To be a nice know-it-all, you have to be willing to admit when you don't know everything. You could do your best to know as much as possible about a topic or subject, but there may be times when you get stuck or don't know for sure the correct answer. Instead of pretending you know something, you should be willing to admit that you are not entirely sure about the correct solution to a problem. Then ask others for their opinion. This will show that you can be open and humble about the limits of your knowledge.
You could try to be a know-it-all about how to solve a math problem in class. However, you may have a hard time identifying the correct answer. Instead of sitting in class and still struggling, you could tap a friend on the shoulder and ask for help. On the other hand, you could raise your hand and ask the teacher for help
Method 2 of 4: Be a smarty guy at school
Step 1. Raise your hand in class frequently
You can be a know-it-all in school by attending every class and raising your hand frequently. Like a know-it-all, you shouldn't be afraid to show off your knowledge in class in front of your peers. Raise your hand in class as high as you can, so the teacher can call you and ask for an answer.
Being a know-it-all, you may be tempted to raise your hand every time the teacher asks for an answer to a problem or an opinion from the class. However, you should make sure you know the answer to your question before raising your hand. You're not going to look like a know-it-all if you give the wrong answer
Step 2. Correct the mistakes of the other students
Know-it-alls are also prone to correcting the mistakes of others, such as those of their peers. You could correct any mistakes your classmates make, such as giving an incorrect answer. You could also deepen the response of one of them during a conversation, to show how much you know.
For example, one of your classmates might say "I think the answer is 9." You could then respond by raising your hand and saying, "Actually, the answer is 5, because …". Like a know-it-all, you must be willing to correct people's mistakes in a direct and honest way
Step 3. Do well on tests and quizzes
To prove that you are a know-it-all, you must strive to perform well on all exams and tests in school. Being a model student will show your classmates and teachers that you really know everything and can do well academically. You should study hard for exams well in advance so that you are prepared and confident when taking them.
You could also try studying with your classmates for exams, but this may be difficult when you're a smarty-ass. Collaborating and working with your peers can make you a stronger student, even if you may have to sacrifice some of your know-it-all traits
Step 4. Share your knowledge with the teachers
Like a know-it-all, you should also feel comfortable sharing your knowledge and expertise with teachers. You can try to correct the teachers' mistakes, but this could get you in trouble with them.
- Another option is to provide suggestions for a different approach to a problem so that you appear less threatening and aggressive towards them. You could present a different method as a way to discuss a problem with the teacher and the rest of the class.
- You might believe that there is a point that has been overlooked during a conversation with the teacher about a Shakespearean play. You could raise your hand and say "Actually, I think Shakespeare was more interested in exploring these issues …" or "In my opinion, I think Shakespeare lost sight of this point …". Presenting your ideas in this way will allow you to remain a know-it-all without alienating your teachers or your peers.
Method 3 of 4: Be a Know-It-All at Work
Step 1. Express your opinion in meetings
You can be the know-it-all in the office by voicing your opinion during meetings or group conversations. Be confident and assertive during meetings so that everyone is aware of your presence. You could raise your hand to speak or wait for a pause in the conversation and express your opinion. Being bold and honest with your thoughts is a key quality of a know-it-all.
Use first-person phrases when you speak and try to use a neutral tone, even if you are acting like a know-it-all. For example, you could say "I think this might be a better approach …" or "I think we are overlooking a key issue, which is …"
Step 2. Talk about your ideas with your coworkers
As a know-it-all, you should also be willing to discuss your ideas with your coworkers in a clear and honest way. You could talk about them casually over lunch or when spending time in front of the coffee machine. You could also discuss your thoughts during a meeting with your coworkers to come up with ideas.
Try to maintain a neutral and friendly tone when comparing your ideas with a coworker, even if you feel they are correct. For example, you could say "I like your idea, but I was also thinking that …" or "I understand what you are looking for and I think that contributing to that idea could make it more solid …"
Step 3. Do your job well
You can be the perfect know-it-all by focusing on doing your job well and being a role model employee. Stick to deadlines and keep customers happy to show your boss that you're good at your job. You could also try to impress clients with your ability to know everything, and use it to your advantage as an employee.
If you receive feedback on your know-it-all attitude from your employer or co-workers, you may need to consider how you can modify it in order to continue to project confidence and expertise, but without being overly aggressive or provocative
Method 4 of 4: Be a Smarty Home at Home
Step 1. Share your opinion with your siblings and parents
You can be a know-it-all at home by sharing your opinions with your siblings and parents. You could do it at dinner when you have a family conversation or when you are alone with your siblings. You should listen to what others have to say and be willing to honestly share your opinion.
- Try to be friendly when expressing your opinion, since you should not have a difficult situation with your parents or siblings.
- For example, one of your siblings might say something that you think is wrong. You could say "Actually, I think the correct answer is …" or "Actually, the correct answer is …".
Step 2. Speak without reservation at home
As a know-it-all, you might be open-minded when you see things that don't seem right to you at home. You may notice that they are not doing tasks correctly or that problems at home are not being solved properly. You should point out these issues and don't hesitate to make your point.
- You may notice that your sister doesn't do her share of the housework. You could say "You have to take responsibility for your tasks" or "You have to fulfill your responsibilities."
- Be gentle when talking to your parents this way, as you don't want to come off as disrespectful. Instead, use a friendly tone and speak respectfully to them when you're being a know-it-all. You could say "I don't want to be disrespectful, but …" or "I have some problems that I would like to share with you."
Step 3. Try to fix any problems at home
Once you share your thoughts on potential problems at home, you should dedicate yourself to fixing them. Part of being a know-it-all is also taking action when you have to tackle a problem. You must collaborate with the person who is the source of the problem, in order to reach a solution.