Nobody wants to seem like a fool. To appear more intellectually advanced, people may correct other people's grammar, lie about reading smart books, lie about a job, or pretend they are fluent in a foreign language. Overall, 80% of people lie to appear smarter.
Unfortunately, the tricks we use to convince friends, colleagues, and bosses of our genius may not always work. In an attempt to appear smarter, people use serious expressions, use complex words, and walk fast. But this behavior does not convince other people of the height of our intelligence. In fact, the more effort you put into trying to appear smarter, the more likely you are to look like a fool.
However, there are some things you can do to make you look smarter. These techniques can be especially useful during interviews or other work situations when you want to look more educated. There is nothing better, though, than just being well prepared for your interview. Check out our article 10 Tips for a Successful Job Interview.
Glasses
Nearsighted people who want to impress in an interview should choose glasses over contact lenses. According to a survey conducted by the College of the United Kingdom: “43% of people believe that a person looks smarter with glasses. 36% said glasses give a person a more professional look».
People's speculations about glasses wearers are true, as proven by other studies. 53% of graduates from one of the German colleges that were studied were myopic, and 24% with excellent eyesight did not complete any education after graduating from high school.
Using full initials
Employers consider people who use a middle name when filling out a resume to be smarter than those who did not use it. Readers rate the work of authors who use their middle names. The use of initials also improves the perception of a person's status. You might be interested in article 10 Movies That Can Make You Smarter.
Say NO to booze
When ordering a drink at a work event, prioritize soda. Even the fact that you are just holding a glass of beer in your hand makes people think you are less intellectually developed.
In one of several studies conducted by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania and Michigan State University, people holding the alcoholic beverage in the photograph were judged to be less intelligent than those holding a glass of drinking water. The result of the study proves that it is time to remove alcoholic photos from social networks.
Another part of the study found that people who order soda during an interview are considered smarter than those who order wine. However, the MBA students surveyed said they would probably order wine to appear smarter and more respectable to their employer.
Making eye contact with the other person
In order to show your intelligence during a business meeting, try to look at the people in the room and not at your notes. Making eye contact with the other person makes you smarter in their eyes. A person with a scattered gaze around the room is considered less intelligent.
A person who maintains eye contact with an interlocutor during his speech gives the impression of a good command of the topic of conversation, and in accordance with this is considered more intellectually developed.
Keep the pace
Walking with a certain rhythm makes other people perceive you smarter than you really are, according to a study published in the journalPersonality and social psychology". People who walk faster or slower than the average person are considered less intelligent.
People who walk slowly are considered incompetent because they take longer to complete simple tasks.
Graphs in working presentations
To wow your boss and coworkers, try attaching a timeline in your next presentation. People are more likely to trust information if it seems scientific. Study participants were asked to read information about a new drug. Half also saw the graph, which did not contain any new information about the drug.
People who saw the graph thought the drug was effective, unlike those who only read the text. Graphs make information easier to understand. Most likely, people thought the charts looked scientific, which gave them more confidence in the accuracy of the information presented.
Anything that looks scientific makes the information you read much more convincing.
Using vocabulary words
Using difficult words to show your level of intelligence can backfire. Although intelligence and large vocabulary are closely related, “unnecessary complexity"In your letter makes readers think you are less intelligent.
This does not mean that you need to completely remove long words from your use. In certain situations, using jargon can make you feel like you're on the subject and that makes you look smarter.
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Want to look smarter in the eyes of others? Practical tips and examples from this video will help you create the impression of an intelligent and erudite person!
