Learn more about technologyandthefuture with this collection
Understanding machine learning models
Improving data analysis and decision-making
How Google uses logic in machine learning
Ask the presenter to go back a slide
“Sorry, could you go back a slide?” They’re the seven words no presenter wants to hear. It doesn’t matter where in the presentation you shout this out, it’ll immediately make you look like you’re paying closer attention than everyone else is because clearly, they missed the thing that you’re about to brilliantly point out.
Don’t have anything to point out? Just say something like, “I’m not sure what these numbers mean,” and sit back. You’ve bought yourself almost an entire meeting of appearing smart.
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MORE IDEAS ON THIS
Nod continuously while pretending to take notes
Always bring a notepad with you. Your rejection of technology will be revered. Take notes by simply writing down one word from every sentence that you hear. Nod continuously while doing so.
If someone asks you if you’re taking notes, quickly say that these are your own per...
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Make fun of yourself
If someone asks what you think, and you honestly didn’t hear a single word anyone said for the last hour, just say, “I honestly didn’t hear a single word anyone said for the last hour.”
People love self-deprecating humor. Say things like, “Maybe we can just use the lawyers from my divo...
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Step out for a phone call
You’re probably afraid to step out of the room because you fear people will think you aren’t making the meeting a priority. Interestingly, however, if you step out of a meeting for an “important” phone call, they’ll all realize just how busy and important you are.
They’ll say, “Wow, th...
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Ask “Will this scale?” no matter what it is
It’s important to find out if things will scale no matter what it is you’re discussing.
No one even really knows what that means, but it’s a good catch-all question that generally applies and drives engineers nuts.
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Encourage everyone to “take a step back”
There comes a point in most meetings where everyone is chiming in, except you. Opinions and data and milestones are being thrown around and you don’t know your CTA from your OTA. This is a great point to go, “Guys, guys, guys, can we take a step back here?”
Everyone will turn thei...
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Pace around the room
Whenever someone gets up from the table and walks around, don’t you immediately respect them? I know I do. It takes a lot of guts but once you do it, you immediately appear smart.
Fold your arms. Walk around. Go to the corner and lean against the wall. Take a deep, contemplative sigh. ...
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Draw a Venn diagram
Getting up and drawing a Venn diagram is a great way to appear smart. It doesn’t matter if your Venn diagram is wildly inaccurate, in fact, the more inaccurate the better.
Even before you’ve put that marker down, your colleagues will begin fighting about what exactly the labels should be a...
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Translate percentage metrics into fractions
If someone says “About 25% of all users click on this button,” quickly chime in with, “So about 1 in 4,” and make a note of it.
Everyone will nod their head in agreement, secretly impressed and envious of your quick math skills.
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Repeat the last thing the engineer said, but very very slowly
Make a mental note of the engineer in the room. Remember his name. He’ll be quiet throughout most of the meeting, but when his moment comes everything out of his mouth will spring from a place of unknowable brilliance.
After he utters these divine words, chime in with, “Let me just rep...
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