Have you ever noticed that some of the most intelligent people in the world are also the quietest people? Have you ever wondered why that is? In this post, we will address why smart people speak less, how speaking less can make you smarter, and how you can begin listening more.
Why Do Smart People Speak Less?
There are four main reasons that smart people tend to speak less:
Listening More
Intelligent people tend to listen more to what is being spoken around them. They pay attention to the different perspectives that are shared because they recognize that listening is a great way to gain additional knowledge. If they are the ones talking all the time, they aren’t learning anything new.
Thinking Before Speaking
In addition, smart people tend to think more before speaking. They contemplate what has already been said and think about how they want to phrase their message before sharing it with others.
Being Perceptive of Surroundings
As with listening more to other people, intelligent individuals also are more perceptive of their surroundings. They are always waiting to gain additional insights and knowledge. If they were talking, they wouldn’t be able to give their attention to anything else.
Saying What is Important
Finally, smart people tend to focus on saying what is important rather than just talking to talk. They only say what needs to be said because rambling can be a waste of time and energy.
Can Speaking Less Make You Smarter?
There is some truth to the statement, “speaking less makes you smarter.”
No, you are not going to significantly increase your intelligence by not talking. However, speaking less means that you are listening more, and listening more allows you to gain additional information and knowledge that you didn’t previously have. In this way, speaking less can make you more knowledgeable.
Speaking less can also allow you to form better relationships with others as it allows you to truly listen to what they have to say rather than interrupting them or not fully listening to their perspective. Often times, when “listening”, people are really just waiting to respond.
How To Listen More
So, how do you begin listening more? Well, here are four ways you can go about talking less and getting the most out of conversations with other people.
Monitor How Much Space You Occupy in a Conversation
If you tend to be the person that talks the most in conversations, start monitoring how much “space” you take up in your interactions with other people and try decreasing the amount of talking you do.
Understand That Silence is Okay
The next step is to recognize that silence is okay. Conversations tend to have natural silences; try not to fill those silences. Instead, use that time for reflection. Reflect on what has already been said in the conversation and wait for the other person to break the silence.
Ask Good Questions
Gain further insight into what the other person has to say by asking them questions. Smart people ask good questions all the time because it allows them to get a better understanding of other perspectives and gain new information.
Put Away Distractions
Distractions prevent you from listening to the fullest. Put away your phone and have conversations in a quiet space to get the most out of your interactions.
If you want to increase your knowledge, start talking less and listening more. You would be surprised how much you can learn.
