A summary of what Sarah Cooper once wrote about looking smart during meetings.
1. Draw a Venn diagram
2. Translate percentage metrics into fractions
If someone says "About 25% of all users click on this button," quickly chime in with, "So about 1 in 4," and make a note of it. Everyone will nod their head in agreement, secretly impressed and envious of your quick math skills.
3. Encourage everyone to "take a step back"
4. Nod continuously while pretending to take notes
5. Repeat the last thing the engineer said, but very very slowly
6. Ask "Will this scale?" no matter what it is
7. Pace around the room
8. Ask the presenter to go back a slide
9. Step out for a phone call
10. Make fun of yourself