“New Kinds of Smart: Emerging thinking about what it is to be intelligent today”

Piers Lea reviews a new report analysing what it means to be “smart”
Have you ever wondered about IQ and what it means?

I don’t think anyone has ever suggested that a high IQ and success in the workplace go hand-in-hand. But if so, how would you measure IQ?

And once you know the result of your IQ test, is it a measure that can be improved upon – or are you consigned to a fixed level for the rest of your days?

It seems the answer may lie in some work being done by the Talent Foundation (a not-for-profit organisation run by Dr Bill Lucas amongst others).

In a report entitled “New Kinds of Smart” published in April 2007, The Talent Foundation assert that IQ counts for about a quarter of what we need to get on in life and in our work. They are now looking into what other qualities, both rational and emotional, make up the other 75% (and would welcome exploration, help and contributions from the L&D world).

The Foundation have summarised 16 main areas worthy of further investigation. Their research can be found in their pamphlet at talentfoundation.com. Their list of sixteen is drawn from current research with references to proponents of each area of thinking. The idea behind listing the proponents is to encourage our L&D community to pick up the baton and continue the research.

If the notion of how we define intelligence could be cracked, then it would have a profound effect on how we train… so it’s definitely worth making the link between the two! And the great news is that our understanding can improve within all 16 areas; so, for those who got a low IQ score, or for those that don’t dare get one for fear of the result – take heart! It may not be that important!

by Piers Lea