Sometimes the manager/foreman/supervisor is just the team member who is willing to be that interface between the frontline workers and senior management. The best middle managers are those who can thread that needle to the satisfaction of both groups.
I agree with you thst managers shouldn't consider themselves smarter than anyone else. Quite the opposite. Particularly when managing professionals or others with extensive knowledge, I'm a big believer in the concept of servant leadership. That's where you lead by inspiring the group to come up with ideas and then shaping, coordinating, and supporting those ideas through to a successful outcome.