7 Habits That Make Smart People Sound Less Competent

A behavioral expert shares tips to fix these conversation mistakes and make you more engaging to talk to.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Codie Sanchez, a behavioral expert, outlines seven common habits that can make smart people sound less competent in social situations, including "energy ducking," making assumptions about others' interests, and giving bland, short answers. Sanchez provides specific tricks to fix these mistakes, such as bringing more playfulness, creating "story gaps" to pique interest, and mirroring the other person's behavior to show you're an active listener.

Why it matters

Strong conversational skills are essential for building connections, making a good impression, and advancing in both personal and professional settings. By identifying and correcting these common habits, people can become more engaging and enjoyable to talk to, which can lead to better social and career outcomes.

The details

The seven habits Sanchez identifies that can make smart people sound less competent are: 1) "energy ducking" by avoiding enthusiasm, 2) assuming others will share your interests, 3) giving bland, short answers, 4) asking boring default questions, and 5) being a passive listener. To fix these, Sanchez recommends tricks like leading with playfulness, creating "story gaps" to build interest, expanding on answers, asking hypothetical questions, mirroring the other person's behavior, and laughing freely when you find something funny.

  • The video was shared on YouTube in 2026.

The players

Codie Sanchez

A behavioral expert who outlines the seven habits that can make smart people sound less competent and provides tips to fix them.

Kevin Hart

A comedian who is used as an example in the video for creating a "story gap" to build interest in a conversation.

Sean Evans

The host of the show Hot Ones, who is cited as an example of asking engaging questions that allow guests to reflect on their passions.

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What they’re saying

“By far the easiest way to initiate playfulness in your life is after you've been asked a question. To do so, just answer with an absurd, non-literal answer.”

— Codie Sanchez, Behavioral Expert (Charisma on Command)

“A story gap is when you build interest in a story by hinting at how it ends without spoiling the punchline.”

— Codie Sanchez, Behavioral Expert (Charisma on Command)

“It's important to note here the goal is not to fake laugh. Instead, you want to cultivate the ability to laugh freely whenever you do find something funny, rather than censor your laughter like most people do, limiting it to a quick chuckle or even just an exhale.”

— Codie Sanchez, Behavioral Expert (Charisma on Command)

What’s next

The video provides actionable tips that viewers can immediately implement in their own conversations to become more engaging and likable communication partners.

The takeaway

By identifying and correcting common conversational habits that can make smart people sound less competent, individuals can improve their social skills and make better impressions, which can lead to greater personal and professional success.