Are you a knowledge worker or do you manage a team of knowledge workers?

The definition given describes people who prefer to think of themselves as "working with" management rather than "working for" an employer. They will almost always consider themselves as being equally skilled (and often more so) than their hierarchical superiors while accepting that management structure is the way it is for various economic and historical reasons. Provided that management accepts that employees may often be more knowledgeable, better trained and more skilled at their job than their seniors and recognise their intelligence, such people can make very good employees. The dangers to watch for in managing this sort of worker are: 1) Resentment in their line managers and others above them in the hierarchy 2) Over-confidence in the 'knowledge worker' him/herself (leading to a lack of respect for their superiors) Provided that management ethos is such that all members of the company are respected and recognised for their particular skills and qualities, regardless of rank, and that all staff are regarded as a team working towards a common goal, there will be many advantages in employing 'knowledge workers'.