INTELLIGENCE

“An intellectual is someone
whose mind watches itself.”

—Albert Camus, French philosopher, author and journalist.

Smart people sometimes assume that their intelligence will ensure their success. Relying on their significant intellect they fail to invest the time and effort required to develop other important skills, like the skills required to nurture and maintain relationships, the courage required to take action, or the commitment required to overcome obstacles. Life teaches us that we need more than intelligence to succeed.

Leverage your intelligence to broaden your skills.

You will need to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses. You will need to learn the required skills that don’t come naturally to you.

If you're intelligent, use your intelligence to become more courageous and committed. And if you're already courageous and committed, use those strengths to expand your knowledge and improve your intelligence.

Smart people often find that their self-esteem is tied to being smart. This can decrease their resilience and lead to avoidance.

When your self-esteem is tied to your intelligence, it can be difficult to be in situations that reveal your weaknesses.

Working with people who are more intelligent, receiving critical feedback, or taking a risk and failing might challenge your sense of self-worth or feel threatening. You may even avoid those situations, which can ultimately hold you back. It is therefore important that you understand the benefits of working with people who are, in some respects, smarter than you are as well as those who are, in some respects, less skilled or less smart.Embrace opportunities to work with others even if you believe that you can learn nothing from them. At minimum, you will learn how to collaborate more effectively.

If you’re smart, curious and have a love of learning, you might find that you’re more easily bored with things or tasks that you find mundane or unchallenging.Often, tolerating short periods of boredom can enhance your chances of success.Devoting time to an activity that’s monotonous, but lucrative, might be one example.Compensate for that, by making sure you have other outlets for learning and creativity in your life.

Thinking is always appropriate. But overthinking can be counterproductive.Sometimes we learn by doing rather than through thought or research.

Don’t rely exclusively on your intelligence.

Expand your range of skills to become more
competent, adaptive, flexible and Well-rounded.

Here are some ways to expand your skill sets and become more balanced and effective:

• Be adventurous. Instead of saying no when asked to join others on social outings, say yes.
• Be curious. Devour popular culture. Examine the work of artists, musicians, actors and playwrights.
• Be observant. Travel and take photos of what you see. Meet new people and engage in conversations with them.
• Be inquisitive. Ask questions and listen carefully.
• Be still. Relax. Take time for thought and reflection. Find time to seek refuge from the hustle, the stress and the noise.
• Be happy. Find time for fun, laughter and amusement.