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Have you every wondered why a person can be amazingly smart academically and then demonstrate a complete lack of common sense?
Or why perhaps a person fails miserably at school and then goes on to be an extraordinary business person?
It is now acknowledged that a person's intelligence varies according to 'how they are smart' and not 'how smart they are'.
This article looks at the concept of Multiple Intelligences and will allow you to explore how you are smart.
How are you smart?
Traditionally intelligence has been measured by a person’s IQ - Intelligence quotient. However IQ is no longer deemed to be as useful a term as it was once was; it is now recognised to be limited to only measuring an individual's ability to process logical (numbers) and linguistic (words) information.
Whilst IQ is a great way of measuring someone's academic intelligence - as a result of most of our school life is based around a core curriculum of maths and English - it is not necessarily the best predictor of how a person will succeed in life.
Research shows (and probably our own observations too) that a person with a high IQ can be shockingly poor at managing relationships or common sense tasks. This is when smart can be dumb!
About 25 years ago a Harvard Professor by the name of Howard Gardner developed the concept of Multiple Intelligences. At the time he was studying children’s academic performance (IQ) and how this related to their success in life.
He found that there was no scientific way of measuring intelligence and that IQ was a poor indicator of a person’s intelligence and overall success in life.
Howard Gardner suggested that each person shows varying levels of different intelligences – hence the concept of Multiple Intelligences. Multiple Intelligences is based on the premise that we each have natural gifts and competencies. Gardner argued that there are at least eight core ways (intelligences) that people have of perceiving and understanding the world.
The eight core intelligences identified by Howard Gardner are:
Linguistic Intelligence - 'Word Smart'
Children and adults with this type of intelligence seem to produce language with ease. They love to read, write, and tell stories. They will have good memories especially for names, places, dates, and trivia. Many people with verbal-linguistic
abilities go on to become writers, public speakers, actors, comedians and managers. To develop this intelligence you can:
Logical Intelligence – ‘Number Smart'
These people reason with ease, recognize and can manipulate abstract patterns and do very well with problem-solving exercises. Scientists, bankers and financial analysts, computer programmers, mathematicians and accountants represent occupations where this type of intelligence is often seen. Albert Einstein was logical-mathematically smart. To develop this intelligence you can:
Visual/Spacial Intelligence - 'Picture Smart'
People with these abilities can create visual-spatial representations of their world. They learn best by seeing a picture. You will see these people drawing, creating, and building puzzles. Professionals who use this type of intelligence include artists, architects, and draftspersons. To develop this intelligence you can:
Kinesthetic Intelligence - 'Body Smart'
People with this intelligence use their bodies to solve problems, make things, and convey emotions. They are good at physical activities, hand-eye coordination and tend to move around. Athletes, surgeons, dancers, and inventors are several
types of people who use this type of intelligence. To develop this intelligence you can:
Musical Intelligence - 'Music Smart'
These people have abilities to remember melodies, recognize pitch and rhythm, and display perfect timbre. You will see this form of intelligence in singers, musicians, composers, and music teachers. Mozart is an example of an individual with musical-rhythmic intelligence. To develop this intelligence you can:
Naturalistic Intelligence - 'Nature Smart'
This eight intelligence added by Gardner includes the ability to distinguish flora and fauna and recognize differences in the natural world. It is also seen in botanists, naturalists, anglers, and physicists. Charles Darwin was nature smart. Individuals who choose careers in the biological sciences often have this type of intelligence. To develop this intelligence you can:
Interpersonal Intelligence - 'People Smart'
They have the ability to understand, organize, communicate, or lead others. They are good at resolving conflicts and thrive on cooperative work. This form of intelligence is often found in teachers, therapists, salespersons, politicians and religious leaders. Mother Theresa is an example of an individual with interpersonal intelligence. To develop this intelligence you can:
Intrapersonal Intelligence - 'Self Smart'
People with this intelligence have a keen understanding of themselves, their emotions, goals, and interests. They work well alone; have good instincts, and personal confidence. Psychiatrists, brain researchers, and philosophers are demonstrating this form of intelligence. Sigmund Freud was an individual with intrapersonal intelligence.
We each have the ability to be intelligent in all eight areas, however over our lifetime we develop preferences. We tend to develop a preference for three of the eight intelligences and therefore become stronger and more proficient in these areas. That is not to say that we can’t be strong in all eight areas – we just need to practice and develop our ability. For further information or if you would like to discover your own preferred intelligences please contact:
Nicola Hughes
Luminate
E: nicola@luminate-coaching.co.uk
T: 01902 895310
