Your intelligence may go against you

I’ve worked with many software engineers throughout my career, and one thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of them are incredibly smart. They can solve complex problems, think critically, and come up with creative solutions. But I’ve also seen how that same intelligence can sometimes work against them.

First of all, no, I don’t hate smart people. I actually admire them a lot. But intelligence can sometimes lead to overthinking, analysis paralysis, or an unwillingness to accept simpler answers. Some people get so caught up in the details that they forget to look at the bigger picture.

You might say, “But I’ve met smart people with great social skills,” and I completely agree. I’ve met many of them too. The point is, being smart doesn’t automatically mean you’re good at everything. And that’s fine. We’re all human. But we need to remember that we’re social creatures, and developing communication and teamwork skills matters just as much as technical ability.

One thing I often notice among intelligent developers is their tendency to overcomplicate things. They might design complex solutions that are hard to maintain or explain, even when a simpler approach would work perfectly fine. This can lead to slower progress and higher costs in the long run.

Back in college, there was a class where the university grouped all the top GPA students together. I was lucky enough to be part of it, even though I never really saw myself as one of the “smart ones.” What I noticed, though, was that many of them struggled with communication. They weren’t great at explaining ideas or collaborating in teams, and that often caused misunderstandings and conflicts.

There were two classmates I considered brilliant, but during our final year, they asked me, “How do you get good at coding and land an internship?” I told them, “Just do it.” They tended to overthink every step, which made them hesitant to take action. I told them to stop worrying so much and just apply. I genuinely believe that if they stepped out of their comfort zone, they’d go much further than me.

This habit of overthinking is also one reason why some fresh graduates struggle to find jobs. They’re used to being the smartest person in the room, so when they enter a new environment where they’re not the most knowledgeable, they lose confidence. Being smart is a great advantage, but it can become a barrier if you don’t balance it with adaptability and humility.

You need to build social awareness, communication, and teamwork skills to truly succeed. I was a nerd throughout primary, secondary, and high school, but over time, I learned to adapt and improve my social skills. That’s why I believe intelligence alone isn’t enough. You have to know how to collaborate, communicate, and stay open to different perspectives.

A close friend of mine, who’s now a data engineer, is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. But what sets him apart from other “smart” people is his humility. He knows how to communicate well, takes feedback positively, and isn’t afraid to ask questions. Not long ago, he asked me, “How do you build an API?” Even though he’s brilliant, he wasn’t ashamed to admit he didn’t know something. I shared what I could, and I’m certain his willingness to learn is a big part of why he’s successful.

If you’re reading this and you feel like this applies to you, don’t be discouraged. You can absolutely grow in these areas. Work with teams, practice communicating, and be open to feedback. Intelligence is just one piece of the puzzle. Learning, asking for help, and staying humble don’t make you less smart. They make you wiser.