Being smart is much more than having a high IQ.
Smart people tend to be quick-witted, shrewd, sharp, effective, impeccably presented, socially graceful, sophisticated and charismatic. Intelligence is the sum of many character traits, expressed through the impact a person has on the world around them.
(See: How to become smarter: 9 things you can do every day)
Using this definition, the smartest businesspeople, according to psychologist Sherrie Campbell, tend to be:
1. Self-aware.
Smart people know who they are and are aware of their emotional tendencies and how they behave in different situations. They know their strengths, weaknesses, personality traits, values, habits and beliefs. They may seem wise to others, but they know that self-awareness is the engine of their personal and professional progress.
They show the deepest commitment to themselves and to their own development. They know that the better they know themselves, the better they can understand and predict others.
2. Intuitive.
Smart people don’t rely only on the facts they hear; they also follow their gut. They are aware of when and how their intuitions and perceptions come to them, and they stay tuned in to that inner voice to make wise decisions. They can see other people’s reasons and motives clearly.
Because of this, they can be selective about when, what and with whom they team up. They use their intuition in decision-making to forge new paths and to surround themselves with the best possible company, so they can do quality work and keep their clients happy.
3. Reflective.
Smart people learn from experience. They don’t get stuck in the past, but they know they need to check the rear-view mirror so they don’t repeat old mistakes. Looking back, they become aware of the mistakes they made and what they need to do to avoid making them again.
They repeat what worked for them in the past and drop the efforts or strategies that clearly didn’t. They take the time to make the right decisions before launching a project, and afterwards they actively reflect to gain a deeper understanding of what worked and what didn’t.
(See: Why attitude matters more than IQ.)
4. Creative.
Smart people aren’t satisfied with keeping their product, their business or themselves at the same level of development. They are drawn to new ideas, radical thinking and innovative ways of changing and doing things.
Smart people want to forge new paths, and they crave progressive concepts, thinking and people. They see stepping out of their comfort zone and innovating as essential to success.
5. Open-minded.
Smart people accept different perspectives and see opportunities where most people don’t. They see the mind as a parachute: it works best when it’s open. They are comfortable with paradox and are passionate about solving problems and fixing things in new, inventive ways.
They are willing to listen to other people’s views on how to approach a problem, and they accept other people’s solutions when those work better than their own.
6. Quick to seize opportunities.
Smart businesspeople recognize and respond immediately to opportunities and people. They act and react quickly, knowing what needs to be done well ahead of schedule. Procrastination isn’t their habit, and neither is missing opportunities. All their opportunities, along with mutually respectful relationships, develop quickly and reliably.
7. Resourceful.
They know where to get all the information, resources, training and education they need, exactly when they need it. Their resources are abundant, and they have a large network of contacts to turn to for referrals. This kind of resourcefulness makes them successful, because they never fall short of reaching their goals.
8. Independent.
Smart people routinely question authority. They don’t blindly believe what the experts say. They ask more questions than most people in order to discover their own truths, and only by discovering those truths can they justify putting new strategies into practice.
9. Lifelong learners.
They use their minds to the fullest. They aren’t lazy thinkers, and they see every new piece of information as an upgrade to their skills, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs.
Smart people draw on the energy of other people’s collective brainpower by reading books, magazines and articles that help their own development. For them, learning is deeply rewarding.
10. Joyful.
Smart people have a great sense of humor and recognize how important it is to find joy in the irony and comedy of everyday life. They find joy in the daily challenges they face and in the solutions to their problems. That is how they achieve success and feel personally fulfilled.
11. Explorers.
They are willing to try new things, knowing that if something doesn’t work out as expected the first time, that’s fine, and they’ll try again. They see their mistakes as cleverly disguised learning opportunities. They take risks often. They are curious and adventurous in their business pursuits and willing to leap into the unknown. Their risks usually pay off.
12. Self-believers.
Smart businesspeople know who they are, and they believe in and trust themselves above all. They don’t need other people’s approval to make decisions. They instinctively know what is best for them and pursue it until they get it. They don’t want or expect anything in return. They know that the only person they can count on unconditionally is themselves.
(See: Richard Branson’s 4 rules for making tough business decisions)
13. They always write their goals down on paper.
They build life strategies that include writing down the goals, visions, desires and dreams they want to achieve. Writing is their first step toward making their dreams come true. Science says that putting your goals in writing creates a stronger mental commitment than simply intending to reach them.
14. They find ways to give back.
Smart people generously share their success, knowledge and information with others. They are teachers, guides, mentors and helpers. In return, their own learning grows and deepens, because they are actively discussing, researching, understanding and expanding their own field of knowledge.
15. They are willing to reinvent themselves.
They loathe the status quo and can’t stand being stuck. They crave growth and development and are willing to change their image, brand, logo, company name, or even their entire direction if necessary. They try to keep up, or even stay ahead. They know exactly whom to work with, and they know how to reinvent themselves again and again.
They are always learning new things and adding new people to their network, while at the same time cutting out the relationships, clients or strategies that no longer serve them. Experience, intelligence, class, wisdom and self-awareness are what make a person smarter than average.
This article was originally published in Entrepreneur.
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Featured image: Mark B. Schlemmer, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
