đ #PowerYourGrowth: Tackling armchair quarterbacks; those who advise but never act.
Sometimes the biggest blocker you have to face at work is others' unnecessary 'words of wisdom'.
Have you ever caught yourself in a situation where you keep losing focus because different people keep telling you different things to do? It gets even more frustrating when some of them clearly donât have the expertise to offer you a solution.
This actually happens more commonly than you think. Though some of these people might not realize that theyâve become what is called an âarmchair quarterbackâ, they continue to drag down the teamâs productivity with their unsolicited advice.
Tracing back the kickoff
Quiet literally, an armchair quarterback is a term coined to describe a person watching televised sports from an armchair in their home, who acts like a quarterback by âyelling outâ advice for the playing team at the TV.
This term was first used back in 1940, and has now become an idiom that is widely-used especially in the United States. In a social setting, this term refers to someone who doesn't participate in an action but still makes judgments about it.
Some hindsight characteristics of an armchair quarterback include:
They know what you should have done and how you should have done it.
They are more than happy to share their wisdom and insights with sympathetic listeners.
They wonât share the burden of actually throwing the ball.
Read more on the origin of this term + how leaders often become their âvictimsâ here.
What if I am the armchair quarterback�
As one of the many annoying habits found in the workplace, giving unwanted advice could come naturally to some people. At times, we might not even realize weâre doing it. By even questioning if youâre the perpetrator, youâre already on the right track!
Keep going and check yourself by keeping the following points in mind:
Humbly submit to noble values. Arrogance offends.
Stick to optimism. It beats the alternativeâwhich is unsolicited criticism.
Maintain openness regarding methods. It doesnât always have to be your way.
Realize all collisions are rooted in conflicting values. Find alignment where possible.
Stop believing you always know whatâs best. If youâre the smartest person in your company, your company is in peril.
Find more ways you can do to reduce the armchair quarterbacks population in the full article by Inc Magazine Top 50 Leadership Expert, Dan Rockwell, here.
Imposter syndromeâs rival
In most cases, people tend to turn into an armchair quarterback out of frustration. They know how to solve a problem, but might not have the access or resource to do it themselves.
Regardless of their motives, the existence of these armchair quarterbacks comes down to two things; unbalanced level of confidence and expertise. Funnily enough, armchair quarterbacks are the complete opposite of imposter syndrome sufferers:
Armchair quarterbacks (AQ): high levels of confidence but low levels of expertise.
Impostor syndrome: high levels of expertise, low levels of confidence.
In the previous section of this Monday Mavens edition, weâve talked about how you can lower your ego and arrogance to avoid being an AQ. But in the case that youâre actually lacking the confidence to share any solutions, try out the following methods:
Find a community. By creating allies and connection with like-minded people, will give you evidence / outside recognition of the expertise you have.
Unpack your self-doubts. Take a look and dive deeper to understand where your hesitation to speak up comes form, and what itâs really about.
Watch the quick 4-minute explanation on AQ vs Impostor Syndrome in the YouTube video by leadership coach and trainer, Catharina Schneegass, here.
When you read the first paragraph of this edition, did anyone come to mind?
Maybe a colleague, an old friend, or maybe even your (hopefully, past) self?
Itâs never too late to take action and work on your bad habits so that they wonât hinder your or other peopleâs growthâitâs also never too late to remind others not to become an armchair quarterback by sharing this Monday Mavens edition!
You can also tag your friends and colleagues in the comments below as a friendly reminder.
Have an AQ-free week ahead, and weâll see you next Monday!