@drgavingcook: One of the most valuable lessons I learned during my PhD is that true intelligence and expertise is not overcomplicating things to sound smart but is instead the ability to simplify complex things so anybody can understand them. A lot of people overcomplicate things to sound smart because it is a pretty simple trick, all things considered, and it has enormous payoffs if done correctly. Here are a few ways to disarm this trick A few notes: 1. There is a time and place for domain-specific jargon. Conclusively identifying somebody trying to sound smart when they don't actually understand what they're talking about is a longer topic but I think this is basically one of those areas where you know it when you see it and trust your gut on this. 2. As mentioned in the text bubble, there are also tells with certain types of weasel words or language tricks, like using the passive voice and using a long run on sentences. 3. Also worth noting that sometimes people who are really excited about their topic can use field-specific language but if you ask them to simplify what they're talking about, they will almost always be excited to engage. They don't view your ask to simplify the language as an attack. 4. Finally of the three phrases in this video to disarm overwrought speech, the final one, "What do you mean by that?" is the trickiest to deliver. Please exercise caution when using that so it comes off as friendly and not aggressive! #SelfImprovement #psychology #psychology #phd #motivation

DrGavinGCook

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Thursday 23 July 2026 03:48:18 GMT