Never outshine the master
"Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power."
This one can be a hard pill for a lot of people to swallow. They like to think that hard-work and talents will speak for themselves. They forget that their superiors (teachers, bosses) are human beings with insecurities and egos. If you expose that your knowledge is superior to theirs they will do their best to bring you down.
How can I apply this?
- Present ideas that echo your bosses thoughts.
- Present your talents discretely in a non-threatening way.
- Complement your superiors by seeking their expertise and advise.
This post is a series. All laws are taken from "The 48 Laws of Power" by Robert Greene.