Smart vs. capable

The link between

1. theoretically understanding how people work, and
2. being good at handling people

is not as strong as we often think. Point 2 rarely follows from point 1 to any great extent.

I remember when I thought that as long as I was smart enough, everything would work out. Things didn’t get better until the penny dropped on this:

no number of books, no amount of academic credits in behavioural science, no quantity of theories about humans, our evolution, psyche, social life, etc., will make a difference if we don’t also practise, integrate, and embody the skills. That is, become capable.

It’s not that being smart is dumb. I just don’t think it’s enough, if we also want to be equipped to actually do things differently.