How do you appear smarter than you actually are?

 

Presents Brain Food: 15 Ways to Look Smarter Than You Are More often than not, how smart people think you are is more important than how smart you really are.

This is especially true for those working in highly social fields – such as sales, where success is based on your ability to relate and connect with others.

If you have an important meeting or interview coming up, or just want to impress others and make them think you’re smarter than you really are, the following tips on our list are sure to help.

#1: Speak Properly

Avoid saying “um” and “uh” and eliminate “like” and “know” from your speech patterns. Get from point A to point B quickly in your sentences without using too many filler words.

#2: Be Still

Practice waiting, listening, and thinking before you speak or act. This kind of control will boost your emotional IQ and your mental IQ will also appear slightly higher to the outside eye.

#3: Make Eye Contact

You already know you have to do this anyway—it’s good manners, right? But it makes you look smarter. Just don’t overdo it! Or people will think you’re scary.

#4: Tack On a Couple Of Initials

Leaning on a pair of initials using your middle initial can make others think you’re smarter.

This may be because people believe that middle origin is associated with higher social status, leading them to expect higher intellectual performance.

#5: Dress for Success

This should come as no surprise. Extensive research shows that the way you dress affects how people perceive you.

 Dressing well makes you look more intelligent, while showing skin makes you less intelligent, as it draws people’s attention to your body rather than your brilliant mind.

#6: Wear Glasses

This is a no-brainer, and probably the easiest trick of all. Research shows that people who wear glasses — especially thick, full-frame ones — are considered more intelligent.

So, if you want to look smarter, leave your contacts at home. And if you don’t need vision correction, just slap on a pair of fake glasses!

#7: Put On a Genuine Smile

People who smile genuinely are considered more intelligent and attractive than those who don’t.

This may be because genuine smiles convey genuineness, which people generally consider an important factor when assessing your intelligence.

#8: Act Interested

People who appear engaged in conversation, make solid eye contact, and maintain an upright posture are considered more intelligent.

So, resist the urge to zone out when someone is approaching you.

#9: Speak Expressively

It’s not always what you say, but how you say it that makes the biggest impression.

If you want to come across as more intelligent at your next meeting, speak louder, faster and add more voice variation.

#10: Carry Reading Materials

You can carry a copy of Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal or some books.

By doing this, you will influence how others perceive you, and will connect people to sources of information they “think” are intelligent.

#11: Use a Thesaurus

Nothing screams smartness more than an extensive vocabulary.

So, use a thesaurus to spice up your vocabulary! Just type any average word into an online thesaurus, and let the internet think for you.

#12: Believe in Yourself

Nothing conveys intelligence like confidence. When you believe in yourself, it shows! Believing in yourself improves your performance in academic tasks.

On the other hand, self-doubt affects your performance.

#13: Stay on Top of Current Events

Read the news every day so you know what’s going on in the world.

If someone tries to make small talk by referencing current political developments or the latest Grammy Award winners, you won’t be missed.

#14: Know When to Stop Talking

People who talk too much often reveal how dumb they really are. So, pay attention to what comes out of your mouth, and watch people’s faces to gauge their reactions.

When in doubt, stop talking! And instead, ask a question to give someone else a chance to speak. 

#15: Skip the Booze

According to studies, just seeing someone drinking is enough to make them appear less intelligent. It’s not that we assume that less intelligent people are more likely to drink.

It’s that the perceived link between alcoholism and cognitive impairment is so strong that we assume impairment even if there isn’t one.