1. They don’t talk as much as you, because they know they got smart by listening.
2. They know lots of things other than what they’re specialised in. Theirs is the gift of a broad mind, constantly fed with the stimulant of being interested in what everyone else is doing.
3. They juggle home, work and personal interests with dexterity and never fall back on the tired old refrain about “work life balance”. And when they’re juggling, they somehow manage to seem 100% engaged with what they’re doing, on all fronts simultaneously, even though you know they’re taking appropriate steps behind the scenes to make sure their lives are perfectly, serenely balanced.
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4. They probably do social media. Not always, but probably. It is not only another chance to listen, but one they use to ensure they can feed their brains with things they otherwise wouldn’t have come across.
5. Even when things go very badly wrong, they’ll be smiling. Smart people never get ruffled because their smart brains present them with alternatives faster than the bad stuff can happen.
6. They know they are usually the smartest person in the room, but they don’t spend their time dwelling on that. Instead, they take it as a personal challenge to see if they can make everyone else the smartest person in the room too.
7. If they are managers, they will make every effort to get people smarter, more connected and more popular than them in their teams. They’re not threatened because they know that smartness is synergistic. They also make sure that their smart people get to look smarter than them for the same reason.
8. They have hidden skills that never get rolled out until they’re needed. They don’t have any need to show their full capabilities for reasons of proving they’re better than others.
9. They may or may not have expensive educations. You’d never know, just by being with them unless you had their CV in front of you.
10. They never, ever, under any circumstances, make you look stupid, even though it would be easy to do so. They’ve learnt through bitted experience that the only thing that happens when you make someone look bad is you look bad yourself.
Add: They speak and write with proper grammar and syntax.
Tim,
According the rule number 10, you are not one of them. It’s make it easy to accept your comment. However, it seems I’m not one of them too beacuse I’m writing you this, it’s make it easier to comment on your comment
lets deal with that
I cant express how much I hate this misconception.. I know im smart since i have many sources to validate this claim, so I believe I can make this comment with confidence for my fellow intellectuals.
Iv found out that only the foolish and dumb feel the need to spell out every single word in this stage of society. Especially considering most of us young intellectuals were raised in a society where our characters are limited (ie. Youtube, Twitter, txt messages, ect..) Its not only wasteful, but its now become a means for people to validate their foolish claims by using spell check on each other.. You can type a grade A comment on youtube.. fully researched and everything, but if you spell “u” instead of “you” to save space for useful information then apparently your ENTIRE point is invalid because youre apparently “not as smart” as everyone else there.. My point is this spelling and grammar foolishness HAS TO STOP on the internet. If you care about spelling so much write a book! Until then quit trying to validate your false IQ by scanning every damn article online to see if you can find a “your” instead of “youre”.
Though I respect your opinion on the matters of spelling, Riddles, I can’t disagree more about your statement on how only the “foolish and dumb” must spell correctly.
I’m also told I’m smart (though I know damn well I’m given probably more credit than I should get, I have a host of cognitive disorder for God’s sake), and I can’t stress spelling enough on myself. Just because I choose to spell doesn’t mean I’m an automatic smart-ass, but I did learn how to type as fast as I do through spelling correctly and this is how I’ll always type.
So with that, I hope people will think before they type and not think that people like me are a bunch of jerks who meticulously look at every single little fault that someone else has in hopes of propping up their own egos. Despite being a millennial, it’s upon my own conviction to spell correctly, typing or writing, and frankly, I was just never the one to accept convention without good reason.
Hamlet once said “brevity is the soul of wit”.
Intelligent people get their point across with flawless grammar/intelligence and less words.
They don’t worry about character limits.
I think being smart is the ability to understand others even when communication seems impossible. An example of this is when you see trainers communicating with gorillas or when they are being trained. Even though they are very different they are able to communicate fully.
I can imagine in my mind the first sailing ship reaching North America, and the white man stepping out and being face to face with native indians. Did they do A or B?
A) Oh my the english is not perfect and the spellng is off we must now end all trading and go home and tell our king due to grammar and words we just can’t make this work. Well I never!
Hmmmpth!
B) Try and try and try until they both understood and than work together to make communication possible even though it was not perfect.
The word sounds and spelling we have today have also changed over time with the times so english to me is not just a rigid inflexible thing it’s the opposite. Being smart means being able to understand others.
If someone is being understood then why do people pick at little things which brings about more questions. Do they feel inferior? Are the comphensating for something? Very interesting to think about.
Tim,
Irritatingly, I am mildly dyslexic. I really try my hardest to make sure everything is perfect before i post, but often fail to catch everything. Sometimes it seems that I can't spot the errors till I read back a few days later.
Sorry about any mistakes.
Its ok. As long as what you write has great substance, like this article, I can stomach a few spelling errors. Only those hoping to validate their ignorance will make fun of your spelling while the rest will absorb and ponder on it. Great job
Simple; brilliant.
Subtly defines the differences between intellect, intelligence, cleverness and smart. I can visualise this as a ladder; "step off at rung number x", if you reach get past 10 your smart….wonder what defines you then?
Brilliant. Smart comments for a smarter planet.
One more, for non English-speaking people:
11. They never pretend that they have understood everything when listening, or reading English blogs, but they understand enough to make sense of it, and rush to the dictionary to learn a few more words.
James, it is a pleasure to read you blog. Hope to see you some time in Barcelona, or elsewhere.
P.S. -today I learned the meaning of 'dexterity'
…and I the meaning of “bitted”
Well said. Your blog posts are awesome. Thanks for sharing!
I can think of a few people who would benefit from reading this … Nicely put.
Gosh what is beyond smart, anyway? Extra Smart?
Thank you all for your kind remarks on this post. I'm glad you've found it useful.
I definitely agree with you No. 11. Would love to catch up the next time I am down your way.
Useful!
James, you posses the gift of understatement!
I spent a day with you last year pre DWP and have been reading your blogs ever since; they have changed the way I think!
It would be nice to catch up again.
Thank you!
Carol
Carol, I definitely recall the great day we spent together. I would love to catch up again if it suits you… am only across the river these days, so a meet up would be simple.
I have always believed that the most useful way to live and work is to demonstrate the desire to listen not to talk, to draw out conversation and to revel in others contribution. These 10 points illustrate this perfectly.
"They know they are usually the smartest person in the room"
Apparently you are unaware of the Dunning-Kruger effect? I'm tempted to call BS on this list because it is nothing more than unsupported personal opinions.
and, if it is?
It is interesting nonetheless, isn't it?
It caused you to read and reflect.
I am, tweeting this right now love it!
Smart people tend to let mistakes go because they're not more important than the impact of the piece.
ahh brilliant, love the person who wrote this. Helped me a lot. Thanks sooooooo much
Don, Dunning-Kruger applies to someone who is unskilled or incompetent. Surely a smart person is the opposite!
Great list, thanks
Sir,
You are full of "it".
one way you know you’re with dumb people.
1. Read this blog.
greetings,
The internet
It takes one to know one.
Perhaps I'll get better at screening who am I with..hehe..
I particularly liked:
"They don’t talk as much as you, because they know they got smart by listening."
Will keep visiting.
Number 7 is confusing. Smart people as managers?
I'm sorry. Managers? Smart?
What?
bob jain facebook | bob jain LinkedIn | bob jain
@James Gardner – What is your definition of smart? While I agree with many of your points, I would say that 3 & 5 depend on more of their personality.
I don’t think Tim read all the way to, or missed the point of, bullet #10.
Nice read, James.
#1 is wrong because, being the smartest person in the room always, gives me the perspective of such position. I am quiet because you just bored me to death with your drivel.
And as far as being a manager and making those under you look smart, are you kidding me? I do that so I can do less work and more internet surfing and STILL look good to my boss. Then when I get the award I say “I couldn’t do it alone”.
Another thing about us smart people. We don’t use the stupid cliche terms of the day like SYNERGISTIC. What the bleeeeep does that mean? Smartness does not rub off but stupid can affect a whole room.
And smart people never try to elevate others in the room. We try to get the morons to shut up with the stupid questions so we can go back to our cubicle and pretend to do work.
Nice post ! I find this blog very informative and helpful on the given subject.
I feel like I’m constantly looking for interesting things to read about a variety of niches, but I manage to include your site among my reads every day because you have compelling entries that I look forward to. Here’s hoping there’s a lot more great material coming!
I’d go further on number 10. Truly smart people will help you unlock your potential…you’ll actually feel smarter around them!
I’m gonna disagree with a lot of these. Smart people come in all sorts of varieties from the soft spoken nice guy described here to the total malefactor. There is no set smart person personality and this is just lewd generalization
Hi James,
I have a quick question for you. Can you contact me?
Thanks!
Carrie Taaca
Higher Level Group
This is obviously written by an idiot.
i guess im not smart
I found this page by googling how to work with people smarter than you. doesn’t that make me smart too.
ps please don’t spam my email box
Total and utter nonsense. You are basically saying smart people act with integrity and decency This is not always the case.
The Nazis were pretty damn smart.
Hi James (old DWP – Future Design – PA to Manus McManus)
It would seem like the ideal opportunity to say hello and to wish you a very Happy New Year. I have been watching your progress and reading your blog and twitter etc. You have done remarkably well since leaving the DWP and deservedly so.
Would be wonderful to catch up if you are ever in Manchester and I hope that we can keep in touch, in the future. I should have made contact with you ages ago, but other things have got in the way – you know how it is – my apologies!
Anyway, this was just a quick “hello”. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Take care, James
With very kindest regards
Joy
Joy, so lovely to hear from you! I would indeed love to keep in touch, and see you in Manchester the next time i'm there. Maybe reach out to me on email? My address is jgardner@spigit.com
I have read a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you set to make such a magnificent informative website.
This post confuses intelligence with a lot of other personality traits. That the author finds a trait positive doesn’t mean it has anything to do with intelligence.
“They never, ever, under any circumstances, make you look stupid, even though it would be easy to do so. They’ve learnt through bitted experience that the only thing that happens when you make someone look bad is you look bad yourself.”
The above is absolutely ridiculous. People aren’t considered smart unless they’re nice (as you define it), too? Get over yourself.
This.
Being nice is not a prerequisite for intelligence.
It’s quite easy to start using intelligence for self gain and promotion of your own ego at the expense of others.
I’d think of intelligence more as raw processing power, without personality traits coupled in at all. Intelligent people are likely as diverse as the rest of humanity.
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Some people are smart in one area and dumb in others. What is brilliant in my mind is when we can find an unite the best everyone has to give. I’m dumb in some social situations and in finding my way around a city, but smart in fixing things or creating something. I happen to be good at spelling and appreciate the extra time people give to proofread articles they publish. it shows me they cared enough to write it and make it as clear as possible for their readers. On the other hand, a comment is off the top of the head, so I don’t get so picky about proof-reading when I know I’ve made errors.
This reply mechanism seems to underline incorrect spellings in read, so maybe there is no excuse.
AJ Guerrero, 15 years
IQ is not intelligence, intelligence is not “smartness”. theres no difinitive way to measure a persons “worth” but the closest measure may not be what you have but what you are natrually dispositioned to not let it overcome you; IGNORANCE in response to whoever thinks “smart” people must be nice: In stead of depreciating someones comment or thought help them to see perspectives not seen before not frustrate them into disagreement, which may morph into ignorance. As for the Hitler topic it was also an anger derived from ignorance, possibly planted into him by a comment someone once made. so if you strive to be “smart’ by any means it will be alot easier if u arent an ass
ok, so i’m here in the room, i accept challenge.
You all confuse smart with wisdom
I like your article, Mr Gardner, but may I ask if what you wrote here is your personal opinion or do you have some references. I don’t mean if that were your own opinion then it’s of less value. I liked your article already and I agree with most of it. I just want to get some other resources of this subject, as it’s to some degree important to me.
Respect!
i agree with half of this. i especially dont agree with #5, i myself am a positive person, however i know a lot of smart people who are negative.
The the very next time Someone said a weblog, I am hoping so it doesnt disappoint me about that one. What i’m saying is, It was my choice to read, but I just thought youd have something interesting to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix in case you werent too busy searching for attention.
well, i guess im kind of smart. i know how to look at things from many different perspectives unlike most and i have general knowledge in lots of subjects and i have trouble switching off my thinking. i often have touble sleeping because im too busy trying to figure something out BUT i sure as hell do not know how to use good punctuation and my spelling is pretty poor too. i guess thats the problems these days isnt it? too many people with half a brain who know how to argue and are quick witted but in general, overall, they are stupid. i think they should make psychology a main school subject like english and maths. maybe that way people would understand each other and themselves alot more and realise their faults and try to work on them. thats what i try to do anyway.
I think, in a general sense, this list is incorrect. This list is attempting to shape many variances of people into a cookie cutter of what a “smart person” looks like. Absolutely none of these could be true for someone and they could still be incredibly intelligent. I, personally, see faults in others and get rather irritated with them. I don’t try to assist them in any way because I don’t feel it is fair. I have come to my level of apprehension and intelligence on my own without the help of others and it simply isn’t fair to give others a shortcut that I didn’t have. I am incredibly skilled at different tasks however I will never instruct others in how I do things because in our society of accessibility the answer someone looks for is out there somewhere they just have to look and failure to do so is simply laziness. Ive read comments on this post of people who seem incredibly upset because they don’t fit into this cookie cutter of ‘intelligence.’ Also I’ve seen comments relating to grammar in particular; saying that grammar is a requirement. This is absolutely not true. I hate grammar. I don’t see the point. As long as I am able to communicate in a way that is understandable to the masses, I don’t see the point in wasting time learning it when I could be learning things that I value more.
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You forgot “They know that real life is too nuanced and circumstantial for overgeneralizing and judging people’s actions on pretentious lists.”