You Look Smarter If. . . .

And who doesn't want to look (and feel) smarter?   So a few suggestions. . .

If you engage in collaboration and cooperation you will look way smarter than if you are an obstructionist.

If you base your argument in fact. . .vs emotion or innuendo - people will respect you and (if you work in a company worth its salt) you will win the day.

If you give yourself the chance to mull over a quickly rising issue. . .and look at as many sides as possible - people will think you are far wiser  than if you just instantly react from a singular viewpoint.

Conducting your business and life in such a way so that people genuinely like you  is way  oh-so-much-better than whining "It's not my job to be liked."

Prioritizing to the business and to people. . .very wise.   Running around without such direction. . .not so much.

Listening makes you look smart. . . listening and asking question - BONUS!   Issuing a monologue makes you look like a demagogue.

Emotional intelligence, people!   Yes!

The ability to pivot from a heavy conversation to a light one. . .from financials to HR. . .from something worth celebrating to helping someone who really needs you. . .smart people can do that.

Insisting you are always right is not realistic. . .so it is not so smart.

And. . .you always look smarter if you know you are not the only smart person in the room and if you humbly realize you are indebted to the teams you support.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.