Intelligence is obviously highly valued by employers. At the same time, the brightest people can be among the most difficult to manage. That difficulty is heightened if they're used to getting exceptions and special treatment due to their high performance.

In an interview with Adam Bryant at The New York Times, former Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy described how he tried to create a culture centered around good service and good manners. He perfectly describes the sometimes negative impact the smartest people can have on an organization:

"If I had to sum it up, it would be about being generous at work rather than selfish. It is amazing how often you see people who can’t help themselves — because of their ambition or their insecurities or whatever — and that they’re basically selfish and they take out rather than give.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-smart-people-hurt-companys-culture-2013-2#ixzz2K2xy3AdZ