When you hear the word ‘genius’, perhaps someone slightly on the autistic spectrum effortlessly cracking the most complex mathematical equation comes to mind? The reality is that there are all sorts of geniuses, from artistic to musical to mathematical. Equally, someone can have a genius idea but is not actually a genius. Whilst there isn’t universal consensus, about two percent of the population have an IQ of over 140, which is one in 250 people, and one marker of being a genius, but others consider a true genius IQ score in a standardised intelligence test to be 180, which is about one in every two million people.

There is no single brain region related to genius. You can’t see it on a scan (yet), but dopamine levels are often very strong. Dopamine affects your body, brain, and behaviour and plays a crucial role in motivation, pleasure and rewards.

Geniuses can be hard to spot, varying from the popular genius with ground-breaking ideas that solve everyday problems, to the quiet observer, the misfit who doesn’t fit in, or the suppressed rule-follower who doesn’t show their brilliance. What is clear is that these extraordinary people have great potential that needs to be nurtured and given the environment required to thrive.

The 10 Behaviours Geniuses Display

1. A Different Way Of Thinking

What truly sets geniuses apart is their inquisitive, innovative, and creative mindset and relentless desire to learn and absorb knowledge. They constantly push to explore the world of wisdom, uncover new ideas, and grasp complex concepts with refined, nuanced understanding. Instead of accepting knowledge at face value, they are captivated by the ideas most overlooked. They are rarely bored because they are always thinking, and their expertise goes way beyond that of a typical person.

Their minds empower and drive them to challenge the status quo again and again. They approach problems from dynamic, unconventional angles, analytically breaking down complex issues, leading to groundbreaking, innovative solutions. Their mental flexibility and willingness to stay open-minded and modify their thinking sometimes fuels incredible discoveries or creations.

2. Creative Time

It is well documented from Mozart to Da Vinci that geniuses ensure they have time each day to do nothing other than think or to just ‘be’. This clears their mind for creativity and deeper thinking in the quiet.

3. Curiosity

Geniuses have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and to solve problems. They may be avid readers, but not necessarily. They want to know what their peers worldwide are researching or creating. They are driven to understand and can be restless, looking for answers or novelty.

Geniuses don’t just think differently; they ask thought-provoking questions, which stems from a genuine desire to deepen and push the boundaries of conversations, expanding their understanding and often that of people around them. As Albert Einstein famously said, “I have no special talents; I am only passionately curious”.

4. Calmness

Interestingly, many geniuses can be a quiet voice of reason and generally don’t get in a flap because it clouds their thinking. They can be very clear in their thought processes, like a chess player thinking ten steps ahead. Some geniuses are quiet introverts who may be dismissed, so bringing them out of themselves and nurturing them is important. Their clear and strategic thinking can enable them to make difficult decisions.

5. Unafraid to Take Risks.

Geniuses are willing to take risks, embrace failure, and understand from their mistakes for growth, knowledge and to open the doors to greater opportunities. They rarely seek approval; they are more driven by the need to solve the issue or finish the creative project. Their ambition is to go beyond society’s norms. The reward for excellence is often that they just want more opportunity. They push boundaries with bold resilience, driven by a powerful self-belief or belief in their craft or experiment.

6. Work Is Their Passion

Geniuses enjoy being at work if they are in the right place and have the right culture. They may prefer to be with other people at their level, even across unrelated industries, to expand their minds, be taught something they don’t know, and be enlightened by like-minded individuals.

Their work might be their social life, which can be valuable because geniuses can easily become outsiders, find it hard to make personal connections and can become isolated and lonely. This is especially the case if they are perhaps on the autistic spectrum, or don’t naturally make time for social interaction or are very eccentric. For them, work is not just something to do five days a week: it’s life.  Bear in mind, that some geniuses have a strong social life and are very popular.

 7. Hyperfocus

Geniuses excel at intense hyperfocus, immersing themselves in tasks they are passionate about for prolonged periods, often foregoing sleep because they are so devoted to achieving their goals. They can lose track of time in their curious pursuit of knowledge, driven by an unquenchable thirst to understand more. This concentration level allows them to learn, grasp complex information quickly, and absorb new ideas easily.

Their minds are constantly buzzing with ideas, often leading to those out-of-the-blue eureka moments. Their project or research constantly evolves, so it is necessary to stretch the boundaries and prove or create more. Their minds are like machines with no off switch, which can lead to mental and physical health issues.

8. Exceptional Memory

An iconic trait of a genius is their ability to store and easily retrieve huge amounts of information simultaneously. This powerful recall helps them make connections and build on their existing knowledge, making more neural connections, although interestingly, they sometimes appear quite scatty. Regarding short-term memory, the more you learn, the bigger the hippocampus. A genius will unconsciously seek more information to exercise their memory circuits.

9. Ability to Adapt

Their ability to think with breadth, depth and flexibility allows them to learn and adjust quickly and effectively when faced with unfamiliar settings or unpredictable situations. Higher levels of intelligence often show in individuals who can modify their behaviours to cope successfully with their surroundings.

10. Hopelessly Devoted to Achieving

Often impatient with others’ inefficiency, geniuses can have high expectations for themselves and others. A strong work ethic is one of the most essential traits for success, and geniuses embody this fully. They channel dynamic energy into shaping their futures and pursuing their goals to the greatest of their ability. Their passion for achievement pushes them to give 100% on every project, rarely making excuses for setbacks.