I’m not sure if being ‘bright’ or ‘smart’ actually has any meaning or value beyond saying you are well adapted to a particular situation and circumstance.
So those people are socially well adapted and have strong communication skills, but maybe don’t have the correct time management or revision techniques to do well in exams?
I find considering ‘brightness’ as an intrinsic, universal characteristic to be somewhat problematic. I used to consider myself to be intelligent when I was in the education system but starting work really blind sided me and I had to give it up in order to progress. I came to understand I was just well adapted to the education system, and much less adapted to the world of work, where other qualities such as social skills became much more important. In fact the director of my department didn’t even go to university and gained his position by being a good salesman, adept people manager and brown noser. And the truth is a lot of the PhD’s in technical roles managed by him could never rise to his position and salary precisely because they lack those qualities. So who is ‘smart’ here?
And by social skills, I mean less about being chatty and friendly down the pub, although that is certainly a factor, but skills such as ‘persuasion’, being able to convince a room full of people, something is a good idea and have them run with it.