If you are like most people, you want to look smarter in front of others. Because the more people perceive you as smart, the more likely they are to respect you, regard you, and open doors of opportunities for you. In addition to that, you tend to have more influence over people when they perceive you as a smart person.
There are many things people do to look smart before other people. Some are obvious while some are subtle. In this video, I’ll share with you 7 simple and weird things proven by scientific studies that can actually make you appear smarter and more intelligent before other people. The interesting thing is that anyone can use any of these simple things to look smarter. Before we get to it, I’ll like to invite you to subscribe to After School TV for more insightful videos like this.
1. Wear Glasses
Remember how you saw kids that wear glasses as geniuses. Those of us that didn’t wear glasses looked at them as academically superior. It’s interesting to know that this stereotype does not end with kids. It’s also applicable in the adult world. People generally associate those that wear glasses with more intelligence.
According to scientific studies by Gutenberg Health Study, myopia increased with a person’s education. In other words, the higher education a person has the more likely they are to develop eye problems that will lead to wearing glasses.
The stereotype of seeing anyone on glasses as intelligent can be associated with the reason for spectacles in the first place. Historically glasses were used for reading. People with eye problems caused by too much reading, wore glasses when they are reading. And reading and learning are generally associated with intelligence. So people who wear glasses portray the image of a learner; someone that actively increases their knowledge and improves intelligence.
Tech entrepreneurs are beginning to adopt the glass-wearing trend; mostly non-clinically recommended glass. And the glass makes them look like some genius looking to save the world with some entrepreneurial invention. Overall, almost anyone appears smarter when smartly dressed with a pair of glasses on.
2. Use Your Initials
John D. Rockefeller, Bucker T. Washington, J.K Rowling. These people have middle names as initials that add a signature to their brand. Mentioning their names without the initial makes it seem like you are referring to someone else. A study found that middle initials led to high evaluations of a writer’s performance. In other words, people perceive a writer to be more intelligent when their name comes with an initial. If you want to look smarter, you may want to consider adding an initial to represent your middle name.
3. Look People in the Eye
Showing people that you’re interested in what you or they are saying is a way to look smart. And looking them in the eyes is a practical way to do that. It is said that the eyes is the window to the soul and that the eye does not lie. People believe you are not lying when you look them in the eyes when speaking to them. That also applies to when they are speaking to you. A study by the national library of medicine shows that looking at a person while he or she speaks makes an impression of intelligence. You may want to start practicing your use of eye contact while interacting with other people to make an impression of credibility and intelligence.
4. Ask smart questions
Asking an intelligent question in a meeting often gives more intellectual admiration than trying to say something intelligent. Not that there is anything wrong with providing a solution with your response. Just that asking intelligent questions makes you appear smarter and more thoughtful. The Harvard Business School research found that people saw those who sought advice as more capable than those who didn’t. In other words, people who ask questions to learn are perceived as being more competent than those who don’t. Smart people ask a smart question.
5. Dress Well
We are all familiar with the phrase ‘the way you dress is how you will be addressed. Apart from that, you’ve probably noticed how confident you feel in your black suit. Not that I’m recommending going about on a black suit. The point is to dress well for the occasion. Putting on something fashionable makes you look smarter.
A set of experiments conducted by the Maryland and Yale Universities showed that people seemed less smart when they flaunted their sexuality. In other words, ladies look less smart at the place of work when their dress is almost about exposing their cleavages while men look less smart on pants that are too tight. The idea is to dress the way you want to be addressed.
6. Watch your posture
Recently I watched a BBC documentary on a Kung Fu Praying mantis versus a jumping spider. When the spider approached the mantis to attack it, the mantis spread out its arms and limbs like it was ready for karate. This posture made the mantis look bigger than its actual size. The spider got intimidated by the pretentious size of the mantis and ran away.
This is not different in the human kingdom. How we appear before other people largely influence how they perceive us. According to the Ohio State University, posture has an impact on how powerful people think you are. The way you stand, sit and walk is important in social interaction. Your body language and gestures also leave people with an impression about your intelligence even though their evaluation may be wrong. It doesn’t matter if you’re small-sized. Stand straight, tall, and look the person you’re speaking to in the eye.
7. Don’t use big words
Contrary to what most people may think, using big words with too many syllables that require a dictionary to comprehend doesn’t make you look more intelligent. It simply makes you look detached from reality. At most, you become an object of amusement to your listeners.
If you are writing an essay whether for a contest, admission, or scholarship, avoid the use of big words and stick with writing in clear language. Essays with words that are hard for the average person to comprehend appear less intelligent than those that used simpler yet eloquent language. No one wins a writing competition of any nature by sounding like an Einstein, except of course you are writing an academic journal. It takes a brilliant mind to speak and write in simple language that the average person will understand. People notice this and would consider the communicator smart.
These are some of the simple things that make other people see you as a smart person. If you found this video helpful, like and share it with someone. If you are yet to subscribe to After School TV, now is a good time to hit the subscribe button. Until next time, YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS!
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