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My Biggest Secret is That I’m Intelligent
The last thing I’d ever say (out loud) to someone in the workplace is that I’m intelligent.
Well, that is if I wanted to keep my job and not become an outcast.
Of all the characteristics possible, intelligence is one of the few, whereby mentioning it, you are immediately seen as braggadocios and likely problematic. Stating I’m Intelligent evokes judgment for various reasons and can send one to the social periphery in seconds.
Gauche, out of touch, arrogant, all come to mind.
You’re not allowed to talk about it
Silence is the message that brilliant people receive from the world. People with high IQs and learning abilities are, by definition, outliers, and outliers often find it more challenging to fit in many respects because the world is not made for them.
Bright people become wise not to address our differences and mask them to conform. Those who have internalized this message may go far out of their way not to talk about a fundamental difference that often contributes to difficulties in several areas.
Most people believe in order, hierarchy, and waiting your turn. Brilliant individuals disrupt the balance. They skip grades, develop innovations, and have uncommon…
