To give the impression that you are an intelligent person, you need to be aware of the way you present yourself. If you develop a confident attitude, deepen your knowledge of grammar and improve your speech, people will take you seriously. At that point, you can begin to demonstrate what you know.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Have a Smart Conversation
Step 1. Learn to speak clearly and fluently
Say each word in a way that people can easily understand you. Learn to speak at a steady pace, making distinct and precise sounds.
- Tongue twisters are great for improving word articulation. Try repeating as clearly as possible "I am a sieve, I have a sieve of sifted stones and a sieve of unsifted stones, because I am a sieve".
- Try eating peanut butter before saying common phrases. You will have a thick, sticky substance in your mouth that will force you to focus on pronunciation.
Step 2. Stop using unnecessary words and sounds
Politicians and public figures also often disseminate their "well, um, basically, that is, what do I know" speeches, but you can do better. These words slow down the speech and make you appear hesitant and uncertain. Get into the habit of reflecting on the whole sentence before opening your mouth, then say it at a regular pace, without pausing or using these interlayers.
Keep a jar in your house to put a coin in every time you use a useless interlayer. Your family members will be able to receive this money in exchange for favors: for example, they can take € 5 from the jar and cook dinner
Step 3. Use the right terminology
It is not necessary to resort to grandiloquent words in everyday speech. Instead, think of the rather imprecise ones you use often and replace them with more useful and precise terms. Here are some common examples:
- Instead of "good", "fair" or "fantastic", describe the situation more accurately. Talk about a "relaxing day", an "exciting vacation" or a "friendly and attentive person".
- Instead of "ugly", "terrible" or "terrible", give preference to terms such as "poor", "depressing" or "disgusting".
- It's not enough to say "I liked that movie!" or "I hate this time". Express what you think and feel in a concrete way, for example by saying "The lines and action scenes were perfectly measured. They made me laugh and thrill all the time."
Step 4. Express opinions and facts
Clearly, when you know a topic, you're more likely to have a brilliant conversation, but don't overdo it by memorizing encyclopedia entries. When you become aware of a new fact, ask yourself these questions so that you can formulate your own opinion, instead of repeating what you have read:
- Why is this relevant? Should people change their behavior or opinion after learning about it? For example, can the new testimony of a witness in a court case influence public opinion on what happened?
- Is there solid evidence for this and has it been gathered from an unbiased source? Is there a different conclusion that could be reached with that test? For example, why is GM food considered dangerous? Is there any evidence and who collected it?
- Are there any pertinent questions, which have not been answered, that you think should be considered?
Step 5. Listen and ask
Don't try to dominate the conversation and don't flaunt your intelligence. Show curiosity and interest in various types of topics, letting others speak and asking specific questions that on your part show attention and reflection on the topic.
Ask specific and honest questions, not just "Why?" or "How?". For example, say "I don't know much about soldering, but it sounds interesting. What's the last job you did?"
Step 6. Don't pretend you know a topic
Some people try to convey confidence by making up facts and opinions on the spot, even if they have never heard of a certain topic before. This is a very risky tactic, because the listener may react irritated rather than show admiration. By asking and learning from more experienced people, you can make a better contribution to the conversation.
- If someone asks you a question that you don't know the answer to, try saying "I don't know, but I can find out something more specific and tell you about it."
- If no one interlocutor knows the subject, you can hazard a guess, but be honest. For example, try saying, "I didn't follow this news, but I wouldn't be surprised if the candidate in the general election forgets his promises once he's re-elected."
Step 7. Adapt your lines to the interlocutors
When talking to strangers, don't go beyond a few cheerful and harmless jokes, or avoid them altogether. When talking to friends, try to understand what kind of humor they like. Some people think puns are witty and fun, while others can't stand them.
Step 8. Express yourself grammatically when necessary
It is not always essential to speak like a book, especially when you are among people who use the dialect. However, you should learn grammar rules so that you can make a better impression during job interviews, public speaking, and other situations where you are expected to hear "right". Keep these tips in mind:
- Use pronouns correctly.
- Avoid conversational language when writing.
- Fix common grammar mistakes.
Method 2 of 3: Convey Security
Step 1. Adopt a confident posture
If you want to be taken seriously, self-confidence is just as important as intelligence. Keep your head up and stand with your shoulders back. Maintain eye contact with whoever you are talking to or stand in front of when speaking to a group.
Step 2. Avoid sabotaging your speeches
Many people who have low self-esteem or fear of public speaking compromise themselves by adding in the sentences "I don't know", "I believe", "I think", "I'm not sure" or "Maybe". If you eliminate these expressions from your vocabulary, you will demonstrate much more confidence in what you say and your interlocutors will also trust you.
Step 3. Use active verbs
Active verbs communicate more confidence than passive ones, especially when you speak in the first person. For example, instead of saying "The email will be sent tonight", try "I will send the email tonight".
Step 4. Use body language that expresses sociability
If appropriate, smile while listening or talking to someone. Every once in a while, make a gesture with your hands, a shrug, or move your head to show that you are paying attention.
Try not to fidget by first leaning on one foot and then the other or tapping with your fingers. If you can't get rid of the habit of physically externalizing your agitation, adopt something less noticeable, like wiggling your toes inside your shoes
Step 5. Dress well
People often judge based on their outward appearance, even before someone starts talking. Dress presentably and pay attention to personal hygiene, especially when preparing for an important event.
Glasses are often associated with intelligent people. Wear them instead of contact lenses if that's what you want to look like. Keep in mind that wearing glasses "out of vanity" could be a habit that backfires when you wear them in the presence of someone who knows you have no visual defect
Method 3 of 3: Become Educated
Step 1. Follow the news
Stay up to date on current events, as they are a fairly common topic of conversation. Use various sources of information to get a better idea and grasp the different nuances.
If you want to impress and make friends with people outside your usual circle of acquaintances, don't limit yourself to what you find personally interesting. It doesn't take long to read an article a day on politics, sports, science or culture
Step 2. Read many books of various kinds
If film and other media are useful, books are excellent resources for enriching vocabulary, spelling, grammar and training critical thinking. Read fiction and non-fiction books on the topics that interest you most. Think about it when you find something interesting and come up with your opinion on it.
Step 3. Improve your vocabulary
As you read, write down words you don't know and look them up in the dictionary later. You can also subscribe to the "One word a day" mailing list. Search for terms using dictionary sites and applications, such as Treccani, Sabatini Coletti and Accademia della Crusca.
Step 4. Focus on a hobby or passion
It is much easier to find out and keep up to date on a subject that you are passionate about. It does not necessarily have to belong to the academic field or be specialized. Pick something you enjoy doing in your spare time and try to learn as much as possible in that area.
