This post is part of a series on "The Surprising Habits of the World’s Smartest People." If you asked a random person on the street to name a few famous geniuses, there would be many common answers. Mozart, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Steve Jobs and Beethoven are all incredibly common answers. Although experts define true "genius" as having an IQ score greater than 140 (the average score is 100), researchers have discovered that geniuses share many traits, good and bad. We will be examining the surprising traits of the world’s most prolific geniuses. From the fact that most geniuses are night owls, to the fact that geniuses tend to be avid readers, we intend to explore the habits that set geniuses up for success. Goal Setting Enables Success Our first "genius trait" is the fact that most geniuses experience success because they set concrete goals. Experts have known for years that setting concrete goals is one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success. However, very few people realize that how you set your goal is just as important as what your goal is. Consider this: Researchers gave a group of students four weeks to set a goal - any goal they wanted - so long as they set the goal in one of three ways: In their head (unwritten goal) By writing it down on a calendar or in a notebook By sharing their goal with friends At the end of the month, the researchers met with the students again and discovered that 43 percent of the first group (in their heads only) met their goals. 64 percent of the second group (written down) achieved what they wanted. 76 percent of the students who shared their goals with friends had met or exceeded their goal and the end of the four-week timeframe. The genius lesson here is pretty simple. If you set goals and share them with your friends you are likely to succeed. The Takeaway Geniuses know that, no matter how grand your goals are, you need support from friends and colleagues to make things happen. The next time you have a great goal or a big idea; try writing it down or sharing it with your friends. The more people who know about your goal, the more support you will have as you work to meet it. Sources: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228313 http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/habits-the-worlds-smartest-people.html http://www.tandem-partners.com/the-habits-of-the-worlds-smartest-people/ http://www.rd.com/slideshows/6-brainy-habits-of-the-wisest-people/ http://visual.ly/good-and-bad-habits-smart-people

Last month, we began a series that is focused on discussing some of the surprising characteristics that are commonly found among the world’s smartest people. Even though these brilliant individuals may excel in a wide variety of fields, there are certain habits and tendencies that they have in common. Did you know that many of the world’s smartest people are enthusiastic readers? In the era of smart phones and tablets, fewer and fewer people seem interested in picking up a book, but it is actually one of the most common habits of brilliant individuals. Highly respected individuals such as Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill, and Phil Knight are all famous for their passion for reading.   Read to Lead Many of our most brilliant leaders have been prolific readers, which indicates that reading can actually improve your abilities as a leader. One study found that reading not only increases your vocabulary and expands your knowledge of the world but also heightens your abstract reasoning abilities. In addition, reading novels has been linked to an increased ability to empathize with others, which allows leaders to work together more effectively.   Other Benefits of Reading Improved leadership skills are not the only benefits of reading. Some of the other benefits of reading include the following: -  Enhanced writing skills. Unsurprisingly, enhancing your awareness of vocabulary, grammar, and style through reading will naturally carry over to your ability to write well. - Reduced stress. Immersing yourself in a book, even for just a few short minutes, can allow you to temporarily escape the stress of your daily life and can even have physical benefits, such as reducing your heart rate. - A lowered risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Not only can reading improve your memory, it can even help to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, as a recent study discovered that older individuals who read are 2 ½ times less likely to develop the disease.   Make Reading a Habit Even if you feel like you are too busy to incorporate reading into your daily life, there are plenty of small changes you can make to begin enhancing your reading habit. For instance, you could choose to read books that are related to your work in order to expand your knowledge in that field. On the other hand, you could try selecting just one book to read this year that is outside your comfort zone. Pick up a popular novel or a book of poetry that is completely unrelated to your normal life. You may be surprised to find that you learn applicable life skills even in the most random books!

If you’re interested in excelling in your field, it’s a smart idea to learn from the most inspiring, intelligent people in the world. This month, we’re studying some of the habits that are common among the world’s smartest people in order to gain a better understanding of how those habits help them to succeed. For example, brilliant people tend to read, exhibit self-discipline, and set goals. Metacognition is another common trait of the world’s smartest people. Even if you’ve never heard the term before, you undoubtedly perform some form of metacognition almost every day.   What Is Metacognition? The term "metacognition" simply means your own level of awareness of your knowledge and thought processes. Whenever you reflect on your own thoughts and knowledge base, metacognition allows you to assess your thoughts in order to enhance your cognitive abilities such as inferring, analyzing, and comparing. Metacognition is an essential part of decision-making and causes us to ask ourselves questions as a part of the decision-making process. By questioning your decisions, you can avoid bad decisions and focus on good ones. However, metacognition is also related to our sense of self, which means that it might lead to bad decision-making if you have a skewed perception of yourself.   Why It’s Important By enhancing their metacognitive abilities, the world’s smartest people are able to increase their ability to learn and make wise decisions. Carefully analyzing situations and complexities allows these brilliant individuals to avoid the massive blunders that can be caused by a lack of self-awareness. In addition, metacognition is an incredibly valuable tool in learning. With the help of metacognitive skills, you can improve your ability to process information even in areas where you struggle. For example, if science or math is a challenge for you, a metacognitive approach to learning can help you to gain a certain level of comprehension anyway.   Using Metacognition to Your Advantage In order to mimic the habits of highly intelligent people, look for ways to improve your metacognition. Question your decisions and examine your thought processes in order to identify any common fallacies. Use your metacognitive abilities to work on your problem-solving skills whenever you encounter an issue at work. Above all, consider how you can use metacognition to improve your ability to learn. Even though teachers recognize the importance of metacognition, most individuals are unaware of how greatly metacognition can affect our learning skills. When you need to learn something new, carefully consider the process and question the areas where you are confused. By identifying problem spots, you can use your metacognition to ensure that you fully comprehend the material.

Did you know that the world’s smartest people share many similar traits and habits? Even when they come from incredibly different backgrounds, many of our most brilliant thinkers and leaders exhibit certain behavioral patterns. This month, we have begun to examine some of these habits, such as reading and setting goals. Self-discipline is another common trait of the world’s smartest people. Although it may seem unsurprising that self-discipline can help geniuses to succeed, it is surprising how that sense of self-discipline plays out in every area of their lives.   Life Decisions Even though brilliant individuals are often consumed by their intellectual pursuits, they usually apply the self-discipline that allows them to excel in their field to their personal lives as well. Naturally, too much self-discipline could become problematic, but in general, it allows smart people to be more proactive about their lives. For instance, a person’s IQ level is often a solid indicator of whether or not they will have sex as an adolescent. When students reach college, statistics say that 87% of them have had sex. However, at top schools, that percentage drops. At Princeton, only 56% of the undergrads have had sex, while MIT boasts an even lower percentage of 51%.   Self-Discipline = Happiness Recent studies have begun to demonstrate a link between self-discipline and happiness. Despite the fact that we tend to think that self-disciplined people have less fun and perhaps gain fewer life experiences, their self-discipline actually allows them get more enjoyment out of their lives. For instance, self-discipline might lead a smart individual to simply avoid situations where they would be tempted to make a bad decision. Even if that means missing a party or not going out to dinner, that person is likely to feel happier with themselves thanks to their self-control.   How to Enhance Your Self-Discipline If you’re trying to improve your own self-discipline in order to enhance your skills as a businessman, it’s important to take care of yourself emotionally and physically. Self-discipline tends to slip when you are tired and stressed, so make sure to care for yourself by getting enough sleep, exercising, and spending time with your loved ones. In the business world, one of the best ways to improve your self-discipline is to set more concrete goals. Think about what outcomes you want to see and write them down. Recording your goals allows you to begin developing intelligent plans to help you reach those goals. When you are more aware of your goals, you are more likely to use self-discipline to stop yourself from making choices that would detract from your success in those areas.

Over the course of our series on the habits of the world’s smartest people, we’ve discussed a number of habits, both positive and negative. On the plus side, those who are highly intelligent live intentional lives and never succumb to laziness and its accompanying mistakes. On the down side, the world’s smartest people are also highly prone to addictive behaviors that can lead to the destruction of their personal lives even as they maintain successful careers. With this post, we offer an overview of the big picture lessons you can draw from our series on the world’ smartest people. The Positive  As we have seen throughout this series, the world’s smartest people have a wide variety of positive attributes. Those who are highly intelligent are goal-setters and avid readers. They also have self-discipline, and they are self-aware about their own knowledge. Highly intelligent people are also open-minded, and they are able to admit when they are wrong. Most importantly, the world’s smartest people are hard workers who approach everything they do with the utmost enthusiasm and determination. Overall, these people live their lives with intention, which means that they know what they want, and they go for it. The Negative  Unfortunately, intelligence does have a downside. While the world’s smartest people have many positive habits, they are also at risk for a number of negative habits and attributes. Research shows that intelligent children are much more likely than their peers to both drink and do drugs as adults. Those with high IQs are much more likely to binge drink at a greater frequency. Furthermore, boys with an IQ higher than 107 are 2 times more likely to use illegal drugs than their peers, whereas girls with the same IQ are at an even higher risk - 3 times that of their peers. Another negative habit of the highly intelligent is poor sleep patterns. Those with higher IQs are much more likely to go to sleep later, leading to sleep deprivation. In turn, sleep deprivation increases your risk for depression, heart disease, and obesity. Finally, the world’s smartest people are also more at risk for anxiety. A 2012 study found that a higher IQ is correlated with generic anxiety disorder, which can also lead to depression as well as neuroticism and smoking. The Takeaway  What can we take away from these facts about the habits of the highly intelligent? Essentially, being among the world’s smartest comes with a price. While those who are highly intelligent are capable of succeeding in their careers, negative habits can yield the opposite results in their personal lives. However, as long as highly intelligent people continue to be self-aware and take charge of their personal lives, they can prevent themselves from developing such negative habits.

The key to improving performance within your company is effective management. By providing employees with excellent managers, you can ensure that they will have a good example to follow when it comes to their own work. However, it is important that managers possess certain characteristics in order for them to be truly effective. Here are the five traits that are absolutely essential when it comes to your being a successful manager.   1. The Ability to Self-Motivate Managers are responsible for motivating their employees, which means that they themselves must possess the ability to self-motivate. Self-motivation means that you are not only able to get yourself going on the project at hand, but that you are also able to work independently to take on each next step towards completion. As a manager, it is necessary that you are able to self-motivate because you will need to imbue this characteristic in the employees whom you are managing. 2. Effective Communication Skills Another critical trait that managers must possess is effective communication skills. In large part, the main job of a manager is communication. Good managers are able to communicate with their employees in a way that is clear and conducive to a positive working relationship. Furthermore, good managers excel at both verbal and non-verbal communication. A good manager leads by example in order to communicate such behavior to employees. 3. Confidence Without Arrogance As a manager, it is important for you to be confident. Having confidence shows your employees that you believe in your own abilities, which will increase their respect for you. Unfortunately, such confidence is all too often mistaken for arrogance. If your employees believe that you are arrogant, they will lose respect for you rather than gaining it. To prevent this, imbue your confidence with personality to make yourself likeable to your employees. 4. Willingness to Share One ineffective management strategy is withholding information from your employees. Instead, effective managers share as much information as possible with their employees, creating an environment of collective intelligence. This creates trust between management and employees, leading to a more effective relationship. Remember to never isolate yourself from those you are managing, as this will lessen trust in the relationship. 5. Prowess in Problem Solving Finally, a great manager is able to problem solve. Problem solving is one of the key components of a management position, whether you are working out a conflict between employees or solving a crisis with a client. In addition to being able to solve problems, a good manager takes responsibility for problems that arise.

To negotiate successfully, understand each potential client needs a different negotiation style. Which negotiation approach you use depends on your client’s personality. Below, we’ve outlined four basic personality types and the best ways to negotiate with each. Type 1: The Choleric Choleric people, sometimes known as "drivers," are "bottom line" people. They like to get things done as quickly, efficiently, and correctly as possible. They make quick judgments and are usually right, and they want things done their way. When negotiating with a choleric, logic is your best friend. Present the facts and explain why the deal makes logical sense. Focus on results - what’s in it for the choleric if he or she agrees with you? Be assertive; choleric people can become inflexible if you disagree with them, but you may need to do so to get the deal. Type 2: The Sanguine Sanguine people, sometimes called socializers, love people. They’re the ones who will laugh at your jokes - and tell their own - and share stories. With a sanguine, focus on what your idea or product will mean for relationships. Will the sanguine’s company like it? Will it benefit people? Is it fun? Use stories and experiences to keep this person focused; otherwise he or she may drift. Present facts optimistically and show the sanguine how he or she can use your idea or product in creative ways. Type 3: The Melancholic Melancholic people are often called clinicians because they analyze everything, sometimes too much. They love order and want everything perfect. This type of person wants to know the details and feel secure. Successful negotiation with a melancholic depends on details. Present both the positives and negatives of your product or idea, and give specific reasons why they need it. Allow them time to think through a decision, and show interest in building deep rapport. Type 4: The Phlegmatic Phlegmatic people are known for being amiable. They like to do things the easy way without ruffling feathers. They can be agreeable and sensitive to a fault, and they like working in groups and building personal bridges. Never make a phlegmatic feel patronized; this person has an iron will and will shut down if you do. Instead, be patient and build rapport. Keep words and body language open. Focus your discussion on how the product or idea works. Emphasize how negotiation benefits both parties, and stay away from too many statements about "my" product or "my" services. Otherwise, the phlegmatic might feel railroaded.

One of the most terrifying words in the English language is ‘NO.’ It’s the spoken expression of rejection, and it can really sting. For those who work in sales or jobs that involve heavy amounts of negotiation, and interpersonal communication the word ‘NO’ sounds like a death sentence. And a long-term string of NO’s can turn into a situation that does more than just sound like a death sentence. Human being communicate with each other all day long. Our capacity for language is what distinguishes us as a species. But, because it comes naturally to us, many of us tend to take it for granted. Those of us who have an aversion to hearing the word ‘NO’ need to stop doing that. Really elegant communication skills are an art form, something that requires practice, study, and long-term cultivation. For people who work in sales and negotiation jobs, communication is their bread and butter. The following infographic outlines a few of the ways people say ‘NO." It also includes some of the techniques we teach in our corporate sales training and sales negotiation training programs, to ensure that ‘NO’ is not the last word in the conversation.

Despite our technologically-driven world, face to face interviews remain a key component of any negotiation. Whether you’re a prospective employee netting your first interview or a seasoned professional negotiating with an important client, interview skills are paramount. But sometimes interviews fail, and you may be bewildered as to why. Today, we’ll discuss the top reasons you didn’t ace your interview and how to avoid them in the future. Reason 1: Rudeness Hopefully, most of us wouldn’t walk into an interview or negotiation and make snide comments about the interviewer or stick our feet on the desk. However, there are subtle examples of rudeness that are just as harmful. For instance, you should avoid blunt, impertinent questions. If you left your last job due to low pay, don’t start the question-and-answer session with, "How long would it be before I got a raise?" If you’ve heard the client you’re negotiating with had an EEOC complaint filed against him, don’t ask about it. He won’t answer, and he’ll assume you think the worst of everyone you meet. Additionally, don’t do small, potentially rude things such as drumming your fingernails on the chair arm. Reason 2: Lies If your resume says you worked for your last company for a year, but you tell the interviewer it was eight months, he or she will assume you’re lying. Most interviewers can also spot resume padding a mile away, so don’t claim you’re proficient in French because you made an A in French II senior year of college. Additionally, don’t fib to make the employer feel good; for example, don’t say you’ll accept a certain salary when you really need more. Employers respect people who are open. Double-check your resume for any inconsistencies, no matter how small. Be assertive - but not aggressive - in negotiations, and offer to explain anything the interviewer has questions about. Reason 3: Cluelessness Few things irritate an employer or client more than an interviewee who doesn’t know much about the job or company. Do plenty of research before the interview, even if you won’t be working with this client long or the job is an entry-level position. Ask company-specific questions such as, "Does your special education program embrace full or partial inclusion?" If you don’t do your homework, it sends the message you don’t care and would prefer not to work with the company or client. In this case, you will not get the job or deal.

For most employers, recruiting new hires is easy. The problem comes when the same employees want to quit once they’ve worked for you only a few months or even weeks. If you struggle with employee retention, you aren’t alone. It’s a tough market for employers as well as employees, but there are things you can do to improve retention. Today, we’ll discuss why employees quit and how you can keep them from doing it. Why Employees Quit For every hundred employees, there are a hundred reasons to quit. According to the experts, though, the top reasons most people quit include: Lack of trust. Your employees will quit if they don’t feel you treat them as adults. Stringent penalties for being five minutes late, managers constantly looking over their shoulders, or surprise meetings where they’re quizzed on performance all make employees anxious and frustrated. Most people work hard to get their jobs, and they deserve to be trusted to do what you hired them for. Lack of vision. Walt Disney got the idea for Disneyland while watching his kids ride a carousel - he wanted to create a place where children and adults could have fun together. Disney had a gift for sharing his vision and getting others to believe in it. If your employees don’t know why they’re with you, they’ll leave. Lack of people skills. Employees want to know you’re listening. If you ask for suggestions in a meeting, take them to heart. Don’t interrupt when a worker talks to you. Remember names and faces, and ask friendly questions. How to Retain Employees Now that you know why people leave jobs, you might wonder how to keep them. Most business owners agree on a few key strategies, including: Know your numbers. How high is your turnover rate? What time of year do most employees leave? What departments have the highest and lowest turnover? These numbers will show you where you need to improve. Look for stressors. The workplace itself is stressful, but some jobs are more demanding than others. For example, doctors, police officers, teachers, and pastors are all particularly vulnerable to burnout. Find your company’s specific stressors. Are they confined to certain departments? Pinpoint the stress and invite employees to help you address it. Evaluate the hiring process. Who are you hiring and why? Many potential employees get discouraged because interviews focus on personality and "soft skills," not the skills they need to do the job. Strike a balance between professional and personal.