How to Look Smarter

In the Wall Street Journal, Sue Shellenbarger writes about, “How to Look Smarter.” I consider this topic a form of artificial intelligence.

“While trying to look intelligent, a lot of people do things that make them look dumb.

Shellenbarger continues...

The cues people look for in assessing each other’s intelligence are simple. But they aren’t always easy to pull off under pressure. They include showing self-confidence, speaking clearly and smoothly, and responding thoughtfully to what others are saying...”

It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Positive first impressions may be shattered, however, as soon as pretentious language starts interfering with others’ ability to understand and communicate with you…”

Emotional Smarts vs. Educational Smarts

Research carried out by the Carnegie Institute of Technology shows that 85 percent of your professional and financial success is due to your personality and ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead. It may surprise you to know that the research showed that only 15 percent is due to technical knowledge.

These “emotional intelligence” statistics may be a vote for nature versus nurture, a case for EQ over IQ. However, I find that success requires both forms of intelligence along with an understanding of personal limitations.

Nobel Prize winning psychologist, Daniel Kahneman, found that cognitively “smart” people have large “bias blind spots,” indicating that smarter people are more vulnerable to common mental mistakes due to an inflated sense of their own intelligence and intuition.

Kahneman also found that people would rather do business with a person they like and trust rather than someone they don’t, even if the likeable person is offering a lower quality product or service at a higher price... [or, is smarter - DJK]

If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.

If you’re new to your career, go find a better room, company, division, team or boss.

Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher." - Oprah Winfrey

If you’re the boss, go hire smarter people.

The best thing that can happen to you as a boss is hiring a person who is smarter, more creative, or in some way more talented than you are. It’s like winning the lottery. Suddenly you’ve got a team member whose talent will very likely improve everyone’s performance and reputation. Including yours."
- Jack & Suzy Welch

Just for Your Information...

Using a middle initial makes people expect you to perform better on a competitive intellectual quiz, according to several studies; middle initials are linked in many people’s minds to higher social status and education.”

? David J. Katz, New York City, January 14, 2015

If you enjoyed this post, please click the "follow" button at the top of this page so I can continue to share my thoughts with you. I also appreciate your comments and feedback. Thank you.

If you liked this article you may enjoy some of my other posts, below:

• Be a Gentleman, or be a Jerk - Choose Wisely
• Leaders Chase Tennis Balls
• Leave the Gun. Take the Cannoli
• Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
• You Need a Signature Look
• 12 Quotes You Will Use
• Pay It Forward - 2015

David J. Katz is executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Randa Accessories, a $700 million global consumer products company. He is a public speaker, co-author of the best-selling book "Design For Response: Creative Direct Marketing That Works" [Rockport Publishers] and has written over 100 published articles. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, and Women's Wear Daily.

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Image Attributions:

Steve Carell & Rubik Cube - Wired Magazine

Intelligence Chart: The Wall St. Journal - Jan. 14, 2015

Cartoon: The New Yorker - Stvenson

"It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abe Lincoln