How to Impress a Smart Guy

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When you’re talking to a really smart guy, you might feel some pressure to prove yourself or your intelligence. However, impressing a smart guy isn’t hard, even if you don’t feel like the most intelligent person in the room. Keep reading to learn how you can make a great impression and keep a smart guy interested with just a few easy tactics.

1

Dress well.

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    If you’re dressing to impress, make sure you’re wearing clean, well-fitting clothes that flatter your body. Run a brush through your hair and make sure your breath smells good before you approach a smart guy to start talking. [1]
    • There’s no need to dress up in professional clothing if you’re in a casual setting. However, even casual clothes can look clean and polished!
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2

Start the conversation.

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    Instead of waiting for a guy to approach you, head over to him and say hello. You don’t have to have a crazy opening line, but you can ask about his day or how he’s doing. Try something like: [2]
    • “Hi, I’m Anthony.”
    • “Hey, how are you doing tonight?”
    • “Hi, I like your tie.”
3

Ask him about his interests.

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    Try to show a genuine interest in what he does so he knows you’re really invested in him. [3] Go for detailed questions that show you want to learn about his life. Try things like: [4]
    • “What do you do for work?”
    • “What does a typical work day look like for you?”
    • “What do you like to do for fun?”
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4

Listen to him talk.

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    [5] You could even say things like “uh-huh” and “hmm” to show you understand what’s going on. Try not to look away or glance around the room, or he might think you’re not interested. [6]
    • You could also rephrase what he just said in your own words to show that you’re understanding. Start with “So what you’re saying is…”
5

Ask follow-up questions.

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    A lot of smart guys are used to people telling them to stop talking, so getting some encouragement will be a nice change. Ask specific questions that relate to what he’s saying, like: [7]
    • “Could you tell me more about that?”
    • “Wow! So what did you do next?”
    • “Interesting. Do you enjoy what you do?”
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6

Give him sincere compliments.

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    [8] Maybe you’re impressed by his credentials, or maybe he just told you a really funny story. Stay away from the physical stuff for now, and try things like: [9]
    • “Wow, 2 degrees in only 3 years? I’m impressed.”
    • “You have such a way with words. No one makes me laugh like this!”
7

Remember small details.

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    For instance, if you two are talking about his job, you might mention how that ties into his degree that he told you about earlier. Make a note in your head about the small details of his life to show him that you’re interested. [10]
    • You might say something like, “It’s cool that you work in engineering now, even though you majored in biology. How’d you make that switch?”
    • Or, “You grew up in Chicago, right? I bet you’re used to the snow here, then.”
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8

Ask him questions if you’re confused.

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    If you two are chatting and he brings up something you don’t know about, ask him about it! It will be a nice conversation topic that you two can chat about for a while. [11]
    • For instance, you might say, “Oh, I’ve never heard of that before.”
    • Or, “I know I’ve heard that name, but I’m blanking on what that is. Remind me?”
9

Talk about things you’re interested in.

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    It could be your work, your hobbies, or just something you really like to talk about. Don’t worry if your interests don’t align exactly—he’ll be impressed if you can talk in depth about almost anything. [12]
    • For instance, maybe you’re super into literature and you can talk about which classic novels you love (or hate).
    • Or, maybe you really like art and you can tell him a little bit about the art world.
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10

Tell him what you do in your free time.

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    If you do cool stuff in your free time, tell him about it! Maybe you do art, or you take college classes, or you have a fun hobby that you love. [13]
    • It’s always a good idea to relax, too, but save talking about your chill time for later. If you want to impress him, go all in with the cool stuff you do after work or school.
11

Talk about your intelligent friends.

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    If you have any friends who are pretty smart, mention who they are and what they do. Keep the names of your partying friends to yourself, at least for now. [14]
    • For example, you might say, “Oh, you lived in D.C.? That’s so cool—my friend Jessica lives there now; she’s a paralegal.”
    • Or, “My friend Jeff used to work in engineering, too. He switched career paths and he’s now an accountant.”
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12

Tell him about your accomplishments.

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    Try not to brag or talk for too long about them, but feel free to let him know how smart you are, too. Tell him about awards, certificates, and titles you’ve gotten by using your intelligence. [15]
    • You could also talk about your future goals and what you plan to do next.
    • Try to work this into conversation so it doesn’t feel forced. For instance, if you two are talking about traveling, you could mention how you traveled out of state to go talk at a conference.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you dazzle a guy?
    Shana Tibi
    Certified Professional Matchmaker
    Shana Tibi is a Certified Professional Matchmaker, Date and Relationship Coach, and the Founder of Curated Connections, a matchmaking service for single professionals. Shana specializes in understanding core values and personal preferences to curate dates. She holds a BA in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Prescott College and an MSW in Social Work from California State University, Hayward. She is an active member of the Global Love Institute where she earned her matchmaking certifications.
    Shana Tibi
    Certified Professional Matchmaker
    Expert Answer
    Be the person you're trying to attract! For instance, if you're looking to meet the CEO of a company, you'd want to be on a similar path yourself.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonlevy/2018/04/26/5-tips-to-start-conversations-and-impress-people-in-30-seconds-or-less/?sh=3ab5a9057325
      2. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonlevy/2018/04/26/5-tips-to-start-conversations-and-impress-people-in-30-seconds-or-less/?sh=3ab5a9057325
      3. ↑ Shana Tibi. Certified Professional Matchmaker. Expert Interview. 19 October 2021.
      4. ↑ https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-turn-small-talk-into-smart-conversation/
      5. ↑ Shana Tibi. Certified Professional Matchmaker. Expert Interview. 19 October 2021.
      6. ↑ https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/6-strategies-smart-people-use-for-having-really-interesting-conversations.html
      7. ↑ https://ideas.ted.com/how-to-turn-small-talk-into-smart-conversation/
      8. ↑ Shana Tibi. Certified Professional Matchmaker. Expert Interview. 19 October 2021.
      9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200403/the-art-the-compliment
      1. ↑ https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/12-little-things-that-show-people-youre-intelligent-without-you-having-to-say-it.html
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/how-do-life/201801/four-dating-tips-smart-people
      3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/how-do-life/201801/four-dating-tips-smart-people
      4. ↑ https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/12-little-things-that-show-people-youre-intelligent-without-you-having-to-say-it.html
      5. ↑ https://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/12-little-things-that-show-people-youre-intelligent-without-you-having-to-say-it.html
      6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/how-do-life/201801/four-dating-tips-smart-people

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