July 8, 2025

Pain Points Podcast: Managing Smart People

by Jonathan Hancock
reviewed by Matthew Hughes
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Intelligent people don't always thrive at work. They can feel frustrated, bored or patronized. They might be surprised when things start to get hard. And, without the right support, they may struggle to get their core work finished, and find it difficult to be part of a diverse team.

Monika Orski knows how this feels. A gifted engineer, and a former chair of the high-IQ society Mensa, she's had to learn a lot about herself over the years in order to use her intelligence to the full. And, along with her fellow Mensans, she's explored the impact of IQ on individuals and organizations.

In this episode of Pain Points, listen to Monika share down-to-earth advice for managers of smart people – along with tips for those high-IQ individuals themselves.

And test your own intelligence with a members-only mental challenge!

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Subscribe to the podcast to listen on your podcast app of choice.

Share Your Pain!

You can contact the team anytime via email: painpoints@mindtools.com

Mind Tools Resources About Managing Smart People

Managing Clever People (Article)

Keeping Valued Team Members (Article)

The Creative Thinking Handbook (Book Insight Review)

How to Encourage Diverse Perspectives (Video)

Our Expert Guest

Monika Orski on LinkedIn

The Art of Herding Cats (Monika's Q&A for the Mind Tools Newsletter)

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