Yahoo Lifestyle How to seem more intelligent
1. Wear glasses
A University of Melbourne Centre for Eye Research study found a link between intelligence and short-sightedness. If you don’t need ’em, get fakies for special occasions – job hunters are more likely to be hired if they wear glasses to their interview, according to research by the College of Optometrists, UK. That’s called specs appeal.
2. Shoulders back
Posture-perfect people appear smarter than slouchers, plus sitting straight also makes you believe your own hype, says a study by Ohio State University, US.
3. Be kind to be cool
We’re more influenced by people we are in debt to, according to Baylor College of Medicine,
US. (Another reason to beware your mortgage lender!) And the more you give, the more sway you’ll have, says Dan Ariely, author of The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty.
4. Groom yourself
“Attractive people tend to appear better adjusted, more popular and intelligent,” says Dr Liam Barker. This phenomenon – being seen as competent at something because you excel elsewhere – is known as “the halo effect”.
5. Bed down early
Don’t leave yourself sensitive to exhaustion. “Loss of sleep hurts attention, executive function, working memory, mood, quantitative skills, logical reasoning and even motor dexterity,” says Dr John Medina, author of Brain Rules. Ouch.
6. Control your body
Avoid gesticulating like a footballer who’s mad at the ref. Minimal body movements make you appear confident, says body language expert Allan Pease.
7. Cover up a bit
Bare your cleavage, et al, and your mind’s more likely to be judged harshly, according to a report in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
8. Talk faster
The faster you speak, the more intelligent people reckon you are, says psychotherapist Tom Barber. But make sure your voice is clear – a sign of confidence, says Michael Ronayne, director of the College of Public Speaking.
9. Be emotionally savvy
Dr Daniel Goleman, co-director of Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, says emotional intelligence is a better predictor of success than IQ. So listen and ask open questions starting with “how”, “what” and “when”.
10. Wear heels
An Aussie study in Economic Record found those who stand over 180cm earn more, because taller people are perceived to be more intelligent and powerful.
11. Don’t multitask
If you’re trying to talk sharp, don’t do it while you’re also de-boning a fish. “The brain is a sequential processor, unable to pay attention to two things at the same time,” says Medina.
12. Breathe big
Deep breathing boosts oxygen levels and blood-flow to the brain, and mental strength can be improved with bonus oxygen, according to scientists at the University of Northumbria, UK.
13. Duck to the loo
Regular breaks help your brain digest information and connect dots, explains Medina.
14. Know your area
“Smart comes in all shapes and sizes,” says Craig Harper, author of Pull Your Finger Out. “Put me in one conversation and I might appear moderately intelligent, but take me to the other side of the room and put me in a different conversation with different people, and I might be considerably less comfortable, confident and, seemingly, intelligent.”
