When “Mr. Knows-It-All” Becomes the Roadblock
You know that one person at work who thinks the company might collapse without them?
Yeah… I have one of those. And unfortunately, he’s decided to make my career move his personal project—by slowing it down.
Lately, I’ve been working on transitioning to a different project within the company. It’s not like I’m leaving for a competitor. I’m just shifting my focus, finding a role that fits my skills, goals, and sanity a little better. But apparently, this guy—let’s call him “Mr. Knows-It-All”—has decided the universe must get his personal stamp of approval before anything can move forward.
You’d think internal transfers would be straightforward: talk to your manager, agree on timelines, hand over work, done. But no. Instead, it’s like wading through molasses while someone lectures you on why the molasses is actually good for your development.
What’s frustrating is that it’s not even about the work. It’s about ego. Some people see themselves as gatekeepers—not because they need to be, but because it makes them feel important. And while I’m all for collaboration and smooth transitions, I’m not here to feed someone’s “indispensable” narrative.
The irony? The project I’m moving to needs me sooner rather than later. I’ve even offered to split my time 50/50 until they find a replacement—because I believe in not burning bridges. But when someone’s more concerned with protecting their little kingdom than supporting a colleague’s growth, logic tends to take a backseat.
So here I am—ready to take on new challenges, contribute in a fresh way, and keep things professional—while dealing with someone who’s acting like my career progression is a personal threat.
Note to self: patience is a virtue… and so is documenting everything.
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