In an article for Forbes.com, American expert on emotional intelligence Travis Bradberry looks at eight of the most frequent reasons for smart people’s slip-ups.
1. Overconfidence
Smart people are used to being praised and often fall into the trap of thinking they are infallible. And even if they know they could use some advice, they usually assume there is nobody capable of offering it.
2. Expecting too much of others
Smart people do not always appreciate the problems other people may have in completing certain tasks and thus assume the reason is sheer laziness. In fact, they would be better advised to offer assistance instead.
3. Needing to be right
People who have so often been right cannot easily accept they may occasionally be wrong.
4. Lack of emotional intelligence
There is no evidence to suggest a high IQ also means a high EQ. Some high-IQ people are thus focused solely on success, regarding other people and their emotions as obstacles.
5. One failure is enough
People unaccustomed to failure are so shocked when it does occur that their self-confidence is shattered. Those who have had to work far harder for success in the past are much better equipped to deal with setbacks.
6. No determination
Smart people think having to make too much effort is actually a sign of incompetence on their part and, rather than stick at it, they prefer to try something else instead.
7. Multitasking
Smart people think quickly and have several things on the go at once. However, there is research-based evidence to suggest that such an approach can ultimately prove counter-productive.
8. Antipathy towards feedback
Just as smart people tend to overestimate themselves, they undervalue the views of others. The net result is not only poorer performance but also problems in both professional and personal relationships.
In conclusion, Travis Bradberry states he is not dissing smart people, just suggesting that if only they sometimes took a more objective look at themselves, they could be even smarter.
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