Actually becoming more intelligent takes time and effort. Time that could be spent on bluffing it instead. Here's five quick ways to come across as clever:
1 Choose your words carefully. The boffins at American Heritage Dictionaries list the five most intelligent sounding words as epitome, finagle, gregarious, panacea and perfunctory.
2 It’s not just the words, but how you say them. Michael Ronayne, director of the College of Public Speaking, says, “A clear, well-paced voice is a sign of confidence.”
3 Failing that, speak faster. “The faster characters speak, the more intelligent the audience feel they come across” – says psychotherapist Tom Barber.
4 Fix your posture. The majority of social communication is body language. "If you have a tendency to slouch, people will think of you as lazy, shy or stupid," says life coach Rebekah Fensome.
5 Look after your looks. “Attractive people tend to appear better adjusted, more popular and intelligent,” says Dr Liam Barker. “It’s what psychologists refer to as ‘The Halo Effect’.”
You can read the full list of 21 Ways to Look More Intelligent in our May issue.
