Too Smart for Their Own Good

Have you met the socially-awkward genius?

I have, on several occasions, met someone so brilliant that they didn't know what to do with themselves...in social situations. It amazes me the difference between book smarts and social smarts and how more and more we're seeing the polar movement on this continuum.

I am completely unimpressed with someone who is smart, knows it, but can't carry on a conversation without being condescending or saying something so off that it turns off the other person. A person can wow you with their intelligence and then totally erase the effects of that impression by saying something inappropriate or acting in a way that doesn't make sense due to their high IQ.

I guess I'm just concerned with this idea because I need to stay connected always, as a planner, to the consumer. Sure I can do a ton of research on them but if I can't carry on a conversation with them, how am I supposed to translate an idea that will resonate with them to anybody, much less them?

I dunno...maybe this is my way of trying to stay grounded and put things in perspective. But I would much rather have a person make me laugh my ass off than to have to pretend to listen to a person that is telling an inflated story of their self worth.