Most people have only heard the word “shrewd” in a supposedly negative connotation, such as someone being a “shrewd negotiator”, because they gained a (potentially unfair) advantage in a situation. In reality, shrewdness is wisdom or knowledge that’s directly actionable.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, it means having a clear understanding and good judgment of a situation, resulting in personal advantage. Although intelligence (measured by IQ) may be great for dissertations or theoretical physics, shrewdness has real, practical applications that can matter far more in the world we now live in. Here are 8 reasons why.
1. Recognizing history repeating itself can help you prepare for future problems.
As the old saying goes, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. This doesn’t just refer to big world events, but also to mistakes that others make that they refuse to learn from, and thus end up repeating to everyone’s detriment. A big part of shrewdness involves pattern recognition and the ability to act upon it when needed.
For example, let’s say there was a gaff at work that resulted in a big mess, which lost everyone time and money. Fast forward a few years, and you notice that a situation is unfolding that’s eerily similar to what happened last time, but nobody else seems to notice. Or, they can’t seem to remember how badly things went last time. If you’re shrewd, however, you’ll take the initiative to gather info and evidence of the debacle that happened last time, leading to you avoiding the same mistakes being made and saving the day.
2. Being aware of others’ schemes can help you evade issues at work or in personal relationships.
We’ve often discussed the importance of being able to read between the lines, take note of people’s body language, etc., so you can determine the true intentions behind their actions, and that’s a key aspect of being shrewd. While some people take others at face value and end up being mistreated as a result, shrewd folks can clue into what people aren’t saying (or are trying to hide), and therefore protect themselves from potential harm.
For example, the overly friendly coworker might be trying to dig up dirt to use against you, or the person you’ve just started dating may have narcissistic or abusive leanings, but shrewdness lets you notice and act on these red flags before they can damage you.
3. Letting others believe what they like about you can be immensely beneficial.
While some people are open books and happily broadcast all their details and abilities to others, shrewd individuals keep most of that to themselves — usually to their benefit. Our modern society is obsessed with oversharing (and the external validation that comes with it), but most people don’t realize how detrimental it is to make their personal lives public.
I’ve saved myself from some pretty serious circumstances because the people I was with didn’t know that I could understand the languages they were speaking, and even avoided injury at work by not showing just how capable I was. Don’t broadcast all your abilities, and let others think you’re simpler than you are — essentially underplaying your hand instead of making yourself a target.
4. Knowing what to say (or not to say) is ideal for conflict management and resolution.
What a person says can either escalate or de-escalate a conflict situation, depending on how it’s said. As such, a key aspect of shrewdness is knowing what to say when you find yourself in a fraught situation, and when to remain silent.
You may have an IQ close to 200, but if you try to use your superior intellect to gain an advantage in a volatile situation, you may exacerbate the situation. In contrast, you can use that big brain of yours to shrewdly analyze the situation and either choose to remain silent or say exactly what needs to be said to resolve things to everyone’s benefit.
5. Spotting trends or gaps allows you to take advantage of opportunities others might miss out on.
One key aspect of shrewdness is being able to notice things like trends or gaps that may provide opportunities. For example, we wouldn’t have streaming services or rideshares like Uber if someone hadn’t recognized there was a need that wasn’t being fulfilled by traditional means and devised a way to fill that gap.
Shrewd people are often fiercely intelligent and incredibly observant, and can spot these market gaps from a distance. Better still, they’re innovative enough to come up with ways to fill those gaps. They spot needs, and then come up with brilliant inventions like rolled toilet paper or coffee filters.
6. Making do with what’s on hand in a difficult or crisis situation.
Being a shrewd and resourceful person can mean having shelter and staying fed in difficult circumstances when others have no idea what to do. They can analyze the situation effectively, think strategically, and make informed decisions without the fog of emotions clouding their judgment.
These are the people who can slap together gourmet meals over an outdoor cooking fire after a natural disaster, using ingredients they’ve scavenged from wrecked buildings. They’ll also rig up shelters with tarps, distill some clean drinking water, and keep people’s spirits up with their natural leadership abilities.
7. Being able to accurately judge when to step forward and when to let others have the spotlight.
There are times when it’s a good idea to step forward and let the world witness your contributions, and others when it’s best to step backward. This is particularly true when it comes to letting others take credit for something that may have the potential to go to hell in the near future.
Let’s say you’ve been working on a project that you know is going to get really bad press, but nobody has been listening to you about that. You needed the work, but you won’t have your name associated with this monstrosity once it’s done. Others will step forward to take credit for its brilliance, but your shrewdness means you won’t go down with that ship when it inevitably sinks.
8. Accurately judging questionable situations (or items) so you don’t get screwed over.
The ability to be discerning and practical when it comes to judgment has saved many people from being messed around — whether financially, personally, or concerning their health. This type of shrewdness allows a person to recognize red flag behavior in a potential partner, the same way they might clue into the fact that the oysters their host has been generous enough to serve for dinner smell a bit “off”.
Practical intelligence, awareness of one’s surroundings, attention to detail, and critical thinking abilities can mean the difference between the discomfort of turning down a meal (or a proposition) and a Much Worse Night Indeed.
Final thoughts…
Those who aren’t attuned to subtle goings-on around them may accuse their canny counterparts of tricking them. That may be so, but it’s also important to open our eyes to what’s around us and be discerning with the company we keep.
Now more than ever, we live in an era where we need to read between the lines and recognize the unsaid to find truth in obfuscation, and to seek advantage when others are intent on using us for their own gain. As such, shrewdness isn’t just a good idea nowadays: it’s a necessity.
