There are plenty of ways to make yourself actually smarter, but if you’re just looking to project intelligence, The Wall Street Journal has a handy venn diagram that shows what we do that actually works.
We do a lot of things that make us think we look smart, like putting on a very serious facial expression, or using complex words. Those don’t really work though. Instead, it’s actually best just to be clear, concise and engaged:
The observers also gave higher IQ ratings to participants who appeared more relaxed and confident. They rated as smarter participants who wore a self-assured expression rather than a poker face, spoke clearly in a pleasant, expressive voice, and were responsive to their conversation partners — gesturing, nodding and “being engaged in the conversation and paying attention,” Dr. Murphy says.
As you’d expect, there’s a lot more to it than just a quick diagram, but the key points remain the same either way. Head over to The Wall Street Journal for the full article.
How to Look Smarter [The Wall Street Journal]
Comments
4 responses to “This Venn Diagram Explains How To Actually Project Intelligence ”
“Using a middel initial” projects intelligence?
Say what?
Just so long as you don’t use your whole middle name, that projects ‘serial killer’.
Particularly if it’s Wayne 🙂
I’m convinced that the listed minimal social skills are a reasonable indicator of above-average intelligence, and that would have been enough to cause the study’s outcome.
I’m also convinced that they’re crappy indicators of high intelligence, look at people like Witten, Einstein, Newton. All very smart, and none with exceptional social skills, perhaps because the ability to deceive and convince are social skills, but honesty and reason are not.
Using a middle initial is pretentious, and suggests low emotional intelligence.
– Albert Einstein
– Humphrey B Bear
Yeah can’t see it.