This week, you don’t need to have the highest IQ to have G Factor. Nor do you have to be able to solve a Rubik’s Cube. That is because Genius comes in many forms.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines genius as “a person endowed with extraordinary mental superiority – especially a person with a high IQ”.  It ALSO defines it as “a personification or embodiment especially of a quality or condition”. This second definition is a little more in line with Genius G Factor — a person’s ability to demonstrate talent or intelligence. And sometimes, that means knowing where we have talent or smarts and where we don’t!

During this pandemic, there seem to be A LOT of so-called geniuses … just hop on social media to find a plethora of them. Opinions ≠ Genius G Factor. So, what do we do? Let’s revisit a couple strategies using our adult brains that we likely learned when we were very young.

Strategy 1. PUT YOUR THINKING HAT ON

Evaluate. One of the best resources I have found and have been using for years is Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats. Which of these do you most naturally wear?

Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats

Solution. Awareness of your thinking tendencies is the first step. However, de Bono never meant for his model to be used just to understand how we naturally think.  Wear every hat and evaluate the information and situation from all six perspectives.

 

Strategy 2. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK (so-to-speak)

Evaluate. A colleague of mine just shared this article from the University of Minnesota with me this week, and I thought this was the perfect place and time to share it: When Communicating Online, Pick Your Words. Here is the gist …

  1. Are you breathing before you speak?
  2. Do you remember there is a real human-being on the other side?
  3. Do you know the outcome you want from your words?
  4. Are you mindful with the words you choose?
  5. Is your message concise and clear?
  6. Are you being kind?

Solution. It’s simple. Online, face-to-face, phone, snail mail, etc., if you answer no to any of the six questions, you should know what to do.

Now, go demonstrate your talent and intelligence! Let your Genius G Factor speak!

(Quick recap of the past 5 weeks: Gather: surrounding yourself with others who ooze G Factor; Good-humored: don’t take yourself too seriously; Grant: give yourself (and others) permission to make mistakes; Gratitude: show appreciation; Guide: coach instead of direct; Generate: inspire and be infectious)