Before moving on to the steps in this article, think about why you want to look smart in your interpersonal relationships. Especially with your friends. If you're just trying to impress an acquaintance they recently introduced you to, read on, but remember: in case your friends don't like you for who you really are, it's time to find new ones. Also, beyond investing the time to follow these tips, you'll be much better off training yourself to always learn something different and acquire new skills. In any case, to look smart, first of all you need to cultivate this aspect from the inside.
Steps
Step 1. Speak confidently and communicate clearly and proudly, but not arrogantly (don't think you are better than others)
To accomplish this, you need to be sure you are saying true things. Do your research and only make statements that you know are correct. People quickly understand who they can trust and who they can't. If you frequently say things that turn out to be false, your words will begin to carry less weight over time. If your friends are talking about something that is more or less unknown to you, then stay silent and listen. Don't be afraid to give a brief opinion sometimes, especially if you don't like to shut up and your friends prefer you to say something. When you get home, look for what was being discussed and you didn't know anything about (read articles or books or go to Wikipedia or blogs that talk about it) and educate yourself, until you have a much clearer idea of what topic that your friends were talking about and until you are very sure that you have enough knowledge to be able to give opinions and suggestions on the subject. But check what you were looking for a second time and make sure everything is correct!
Step 2. Listen carefully and wait for the right moment to step into the conversation, saying something relevant about the topic
Do it nonchalantly and openly showing your interest, not as if you are trying to prove something on a social level. Don't wander and don't get lost in the street as you speak, let your words flow naturally. Your attention and awareness of the conversation will improve others' regard for you.
Step 3. Talk about things that interest you
Don't pretend to like something in an attempt to fit in with others, and avoid sterile and negative arguments.
Step 4. Buy a dictionary and use it regularly to learn new vocabulary
Adjectives and adverbs can easily be replaced with better, more meaningful and more suitable terms. But don't overdo it, don't use more than one unusual word per sentence.
Step 5. Sign up for websites that allow you to receive one word a day
Also, improve your vocabulary and enrich it. Just throwing a cultured word there doesn't make you smart, while an understanding of its meaning and use is useful. You can consult a dictionary or an encyclopedia in order to really understand the etymology of words.
Step 6. To become cultured, you must be interested in learning
Try to get rid of your lazy habits. Write down the things you'd like to learn and don't just consider one source - many facts vary and it is vital to understand the different points of view. This is where listening pays off. If you don't know much about a topic, it's easy to sit in front of your PC and Google it or go to the library and find a book, or ask someone who knows more about it than you to get a further perspective. Being smart doesn't just mean increasing the amount of your knowledge, but also being willing to learn all the time and knowing where to do it.
Step 7. Keep up to date
Read the newspaper, follow the news every day, and nominate articles to your friends and colleagues if you think they might be interested. Do not talk about certain topics in the least propitious moments, for example in class, during a test or while an event is taking place; identify the right moment to raise an issue and spark others' interest in you. Tell your friends the relevant news, and if they listen to you, keep doing it. But just make sure you pick the right arguments and that the facts you say are true. Remember that there are articles and articles on the net, just waiting to be read. There is usually a section for commenting on most modern blogs, so you can express your point of view after reading the piece carefully and researching at least some of the facts mentioned in it, in order to justify your answer.
Step 8. Don't be too sarcastic when making comments or telling the facts
Shrewd expressions are appreciated when done well. Learn from those who are good at making wry, sharp phrases and understand what all this attracts and what doesn't. You still need to be honest in your statements, but don't overdo it.
Step 9. Speak clearly, avoid "er" and stop using the word "type" (especially while saying something); you might say "ee" or "maa" while thinking about the next thing to say in the speech
But what's worse is using expressions like "Got it?" every two words. Breathe deeply instead of filling the space with useless "ie".
Step 10. Learn to behave right when you are with other people
Stay in your own quiet place if that's not the way you usually behave. Be a composed person most of the time, but occasionally nod, join in the conversation, and smile so you don't seem to ignore what you're talking about. This may indicate that you have observation and listening skills, and they may reevaluate you if they first thought you were not. This could catch others off guard, so try to change your behavior a little at a time, which in some cases will make them feel watched and tested. And always be respectful: if you change your attitude for the worse, you risk losing your friends.
Step 11. Learn quotes from famous people and use them in appropriate situations
Your friends should know who said what (but don't reveal it immediately), so you can ponder the observations and think more deeply by knowing the person who made a given statement. Expressing a quote can make you reflect in a different way on history and current events.
Step 12. Use "big words" as educated people tend to do, but not futilely
Using the dictionary of synonyms and antonyms to find synonyms for the word "big", and then using them once or twice, when you remember, won't help. But consistently and periodically using more specific words, whether it's in conversation or just giving a general story, shows that you know what you're talking about.
Step 13. Relate people's situations or characters to historical events and characters
It starts with an introduction, like “You see, that's why Tolkien went to Oxford, first of all he was a philologist”, and then, in mid-sentence, he states “… But forget it, this is not relevant. It's just that what you told me made me remember”. Then, you laugh and say "My mind is always trying to make weird connections!".
Step 14. Be careful not to bring out feelings of inferiority, which indicate that a person is hungry for attention or begging for compliments
Someone might tell you that you have a complex. But you can get rid of an inferiority complex and do something for the growth of your culture. Not everyone may be above average, but you can definitely try and maybe succeed!
Advice
- Don't be afraid to admit your mistakes when you might be wrong. If someone points out to you that you made a mistake and is irrefutably right, give it to them, and immediately change the subject. Or use your sense of humor to lower the tension by admitting that you haven't had the opportunity to acquire this knowledge yet.
- "Better to keep quiet giving the impression of being stupid than to talk without any doubt". Use silence to your advantage, people will wonder what you are thinking about.
- Be polite. Nobody likes know-it-alls, who flaunt or have a perpetually "I'm better than you and smarter than you!" Attitude. Acting smarter or being smarter doesn't make you better than the rest of people, so be humble.
- If people point out that your statement is nerdy or ask what good is to know such a thing, try to respond with a sense of humor and say, "I'm just having fun trying to practice my knowledge!", laughing about it. Do not get frustrated, as this will show that you are angry and that you cannot control your anger, resulting in appearing immature. Childish people are usually not considered intelligent.
- If you are challenged by someone who knows what they are talking about, express your acceptance of their theories by saying they have an interesting point of view and that you appreciate the information, then support your point of view. Agree to disagree.
- Really learn. Try to have an interest in the process of learning and discovering the world and share (humbly, nobody knows everything) what you find interesting. Ask people about their mental journeys by showing interest. Be willing to receive teachings from others. Show that you have a passion for ideas.
- Intelligence is like an expensive watch. You don't take it out to tell everyone the time without being asked, you do it when they ask you. Intelligence should only be demonstrated if the information you have is really useful and relevant.
- When someone challenges you, this often gives you the opportunity to challenge that person in turn. This can help you engage in intriguing conversations and make friends you will never forget. But the outcome of this opportunity for dialogue depends on how it is managed, it could be both fun and annoying, so be careful how you behave.
- Express a few words in another language if you know it, but don't be pretentious. Speak using sophisticated vocabulary and discuss deep topics but, above all, have fun with your knowledge, no regrets.
Warnings
- Don't make up facts, and if you accidentally do it, try to catch up by saying something like "I read it years ago in a newspaper", "I saw it on the History Channel", "Oh, then I guess he / she / l 'author / television presenter is wrong' (don't say who) or another equally vague phrase.
- Don't use slang and don't behave immaturely. Immaturity may leak out by ignoring important things or letting the little things get you upset, so keep a positive and welcoming attitude (not overlooked).
- Keep in mind that you may not be able to actually make friends by behaving intelligently, but merely acquaintances who admire what you show. True friendship involves openness, trust, vulnerability and truth.
- Don't brag about things you have that others don't have, and if you do, at least share them. People can show off in different ways about who they are and what they do without being offensive, so listen and learn from those who can show off without dislike. If you're only doing this to praise yourself, this could indicate a lack of confidence.
- Be careful when you show off big words or other acquaintances: you risk appearing stupid if you say something incorrect. Make sure you know exactly what a word means and how to use it; for example, do not use the complement object with an intransitive verb. Wrong: "The disease succumbed." Correct: “succumbed to illness” (“succumb” is an intransitive verb, with indirect complement). Also avoid confusing a word with a similar sounding one.
- The smartest people are those who don't try to behave in a way that is considered to be such! If you go out of your way to look like it, you may be considered obnoxious and fake. Don't think about ways to look smart, just try to prove it through your conversations and facts.
- Watch out for people who might contradict you because you are wrong. Keep studying, you will become really cultured and intelligent instead of pretending to be.
