| Do you ever have trouble making conversation with | | | | small talk that doesn't seem to lead anywhere. |
| others even though you consider yourself to be an | | | | 4.) In some cases, people who are smarter than |
| intelligent person? | | | | average actually feel superior to others and believe |
| If so, this may puzzle you. You may wonder why you | | | | they should not have to waste their time with average |
| are so poor at making conversation with others, even | | | | people having average conversations. They may really |
| though you are very smart, and know a lot of | | | | truly be snobs at heart. |
| interesting things. | | | | 5.) Many very intelligent people suffer from extreme |
| The truth is that many average people with average | | | | shyness or from poor self esteem. This may cause |
| intelligence and average interests are much better at | | | | them to feel that they have nothing interesting or |
| making small talk and have better social skills than | | | | worthwhile to contribute to a conversation. |
| people who are very intelligent. | | | | 6.) Some very intelligent people, particularly those who |
| And many people who are very intelligent are | | | | are strong in scientific and mathematical skills may |
| extremely poor at making small talk conversation and | | | | have a condition called Asperger's syndrome. This |
| may have poor social skills. | | | | condition which is believed to be related to autism, |
| Why should this be? | | | | shows itself in many different ways. Often, the person |
| Here are some of the reasons why very intelligent, | | | | who has some degree of Asperger's is extremely |
| very creative people often have difficulty in making | | | | good at focusing on a scientific topic, but is unable to |
| small talk conversation successfully: | | | | understand the kinds of social interactions that most |
| 1.) They may be perfectionists. These people may | | | | other people take for granted. People with Asperger's |
| have very high expectations of themselves about | | | | may talk in a rigid, mechanical way, and be |
| everything they do. When they think they have failed | | | | uninterested in other people's emotional lives. |
| at anything, they judge themselves very harshly. If they | | | | No matter how intelligent a person is, a lack of social |
| think they are failing at small talk, they just get even | | | | skills can hold them back in their social life and their |
| more nervous and tongue tied. Their harsh self | | | | career. |
| judgment makes them so anxious that they cannot | | | | So if you are one of those people who is quite smart, |
| relax and simply enjoy being with other people. | | | | but has problems with social skills and with making |
| 2.) People who are very smart may have spent most | | | | small talk, what should you do? |
| of their life trying to become very intellectually | | | | First, you must ask yourself whether improving your |
| developed, but sometimes they neglect to develop | | | | social skills is something that you really want to do. |
| their social and emotional side. They may feel that | | | | If the answer is truly no, then you don't need to work |
| developing their social and emotional side is not very | | | | on trying to improve this particular talent. |
| important, or they may feel that it is too late to try | | | | However, if the answer is yes, the good news is that |
| learn these new difficult skills. | | | | you really can improve your conversational skills and |
| 3.) They may be very serious people and believe that | | | | your ability to enjoy small talk, and have enjoyable |
| they should only spend their time thinking about serious | | | | social relationships with others. |
| matters and talking about serious matters. They may | | | | However, you will need to make a real commitment to |
| believe that talking about unimportant things is a waste | | | | improving your skills in this area, and you will have to |
| of time. This makes them get bored very quickly with | | | | practice talking with others and making friends. |