Acknowledgement by the environment

Someone who is extra intelligent is permanently so. Even when –for any number of reasons – he/she is not aware of being Xi, or has chosen to hide it in some way, it is still there.

Many XIPs have experienced the feeling of being ‘different’ or ‘out of the ordinary’ throughout their lives, and have managed to deal with this with varying degrees of success. As a result of reaching a particular phase of life or experiencing a particularly persistent feeling of dissatisfaction with the personal situation, it is possible that, both at work and at home, a crisis occurs making it inevitable that something just has to be done.

• XIPs can come to the realisation at work that ‘there is something not quite right with them’ that requires more thorough investigation. The employer or colleagues can recognise someone’s Xi and draw attention to it.
• At home, the penny can drop through observing one’s own children: old memories are revived and the retracing of steps can lead to Xi, manifested in the children or in one or both parents. Alternatively helpful family members or friends can initiate the process of acknowledgement.

XIPs at their workplace

XIPs learn quite early in their lives – sometimes even before they go to school – how to deal with the apparent ‘differentness’ of their environment. These are emotional choices, whether to stand out more or to blend into the background. Many conclude, either consciously or otherwise, that they’re better off not being labelled ‘highly intelligent’, let alone ‘gifted’. Some of these individuals achieve great things unnoticed, while others choose for inconspicuousness and mediocrity. A third group drops out and performs extremely badly.

But here too, the principle of ‘blood is thicker than water’ applies.
If changes occur in the work situation or at home, or if a certain life phase induces a sense of restlessness, choices made in the past can be questioned and the opportunity can be taken to revaluate one’s own qualities and to start using them.

Preliminary phases in the process of acknowledgement based on the work situation are:

• An escalation or outburst occurs which makes a change unavoidable.
• The employer or client wishes to implement major changes in the organisation or in a project, and asks the XIP searching questions concerning their suitability and preferences.

An increasing number of employers are becoming aware of the link between behaviour and possible extra intelligence, and these employers are encouraging their personnel to investigate matters further. In practice, the relevant manager or HR officer often appears to have an affinity with the subject via family, friends or previous experiences.

The Health and Safety services and company doctors are also becoming more knowledgeable about this subject, so that in specific cases of employee sickness a possible cause of the problems can be identified and a referral can be made for a more detailed investigation.