avatarRay Carnes

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of balancing intelligence with emotional maturity to become a great leader rather than just the smartest person in the room.

Abstract

The article addresses the common issue where highly intelligent individuals can also be difficult to work with, suggesting that intelligence alone is not sufficient for success. It advocates for a combination of high IQ and high EQ, proposing that the true measure of success lies in the ability to work well with others, lead effectively, and continue learning. The author, a self-described "recovering smartest-person," outlines twelve attributes that are crucial for blending intelligence with emotional maturity, such as humility, awareness, generosity, and accountability. These qualities are presented as essential for personal growth and for inspiring confidence in others. The article concludes by challenging readers to shift their paradigm from being the smartest individual to becoming a leader who can amplify their impact by enabling a team to achieve much greater collective outcomes.

Opinions

  • The author believes that being the smartest person in the room is irrelevant if one's attitude prevents collaboration.
  • It is implied that emotional intelligence (EQ) is as important as intellectual intelligence (IQ) for effective leadership.
  • The article suggests that sharing knowledge and being considerate are key to leaving a lasting legacy.
  • There is an emphasis on the idea that great leaders are those who can make complex tasks seem easy for their team.
  • The author posits that personal growth and the transition from being perceived as the smartest person to being recognized as a great leader is a significant career accomplishment.
  • The author encourages continuous learning from both good and bad experiences, including observing the leadership styles of others.
  • The article expresses the opinion that setting audacious goals and solving hard problems are characteristics of thinking big and leading well.
  • It is the author's view that true leadership is

It’s OK to be the Smartest Person in the Room…

… just don’t be the biggest d!ck. And even if you are, there still may be hope. Your biggest accomplishment yet may be outgrowing this label.

This one stings a little, but some of the smartest people I’ve worked with over the years have also been some of the biggest jerks on the planet, and it just doesn’t need to be that way.

And… think about it… if you are the smartest person in the room, it won’t matter much if no one wants to work with you.

Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

This article is intended for the smartest person in the room, but the lessons here can help anyone. The theme focuses on the blending of both your IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ (emotional quotient).

The combination of a high-EQ and high-IQ is an extremely powerful thing and can help you grow into a great leader.

Tempering Intelligence with Maturity

The twelve attributes below are from lessons learned over a lengthy career. As a recovering smartest-person, they helped me achieve a stronger balance between core intelligence and emotional maturity. Adopting these qualities can help anyone improve but they are essential for the smartest person in the room.

  • Be Humble — Get over it. It isn’t about what you know, it’s about what you do and how you do it.
  • Be Aware — Look around. The collective room is usually smarter than any one person in it. If not, then it’s time to find a new room.
  • Be Considerate — Listen to what everyone has to say and consider their contributions.
  • Be Generous — Share your time, your patience, and your knowledge — or you’ll have no legacy.

— —

  • Be Collaborative — Work together with the team or you’ll never deliver.
  • Be Authentic — Others may have personal opinions; real strength comes from facts and data.
  • Be Intentional — Have a plan. Include the discipline and agility to stay on course to targeted outcomes.
  • Be Accountable — With great power comes great responsibility. People are counting on you. Own it.

— —

  • Keep Learning — You can learn something from every single person you meet… good or bad.
  • Pursue Context — Look for the broader context in any challenge and build holistic solutions.
  • Inspire Confidence — The difference between being perceived as ‘confident’ or as ‘smug’ is razor thin and depends on how much you have learned from the points in this list.
  • Think Big — Set audacious goals, seek great challenges, and solve the hardest problems.

A Paradigm Shift

If you are incredibly talented, then you can probably produce 10x more than anyone else on the team. Okay, but can you do 100x? How about 1000x?

Face it, if you’re going to do anything substantial, it’s going to be as the leader of a much larger team.

You’re going to need to incorporate the attributes from above to get there. Look around. Use that big brain to study the leaders around you. Good leaders seem to make everything easy... for everyone. (And remember, you can learn as much, if not more, from poor leaders… just don’t work for one.)

It’s a challenge… but if you learn a few of these tough lessons, you can become a good leader. Learn them all… and you will be great.

(…Think about it…)

And who knows, the biggest personal accomplishment of your career may be outgrowing the smartest-person label and replacing it with great-leader.

Thanks for reading!

If you like what you’re reading and want to see more, please add *claps* and *follow* me on Medium.

And don’t forget to check out my book on the disciplines of leadership, Measure, Model, Learn, LEAD!

Leadership
Leadership Development
Leadership Attributes
Leadership Qualities
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