Do you look like a leader?

When preparing for your interview for the top role you’ve always dreamed of, you might find yourself wondering how much your appearance will matter to the CEO.

Of course, dressing smartly helps give a good impression but throughout the years research has shown your physical characteristics might also play a role in how likely you are to find yourself in a management position.

People who find themselves in leadership roles often share similar physical traits – thankfully, we’re not talking about Donald Trump and Boris Johnson’s questionable hairstyles.

Height

According to research, taller people are more likely to find themselves in leadership positions. Since 1900, US presidential elections have been won by the taller candidate 81% of the time. Both Obama and Trump are over six feet tall, while 90% of CEOs are above average height.

Why so? Well, apparently taller people are likely to feel more qualified to be a leader and more inclined to want the top position.

There are notable exceptions, of course. Tom Cruise anyone?

Mouth

Something you probably haven’t ever considered is the width of your mouth. Yes, surprisingly, people with wider mouths are often judged to be more able as leaders.

One study found the wider the mouth of the CEO, the more profitable the company was.

Mouth width dates back to dominance in primates, where the alpha male had a wider mouth than all of the other chimps.

So, if anyone ever says you have a big mouth, take it as a compliment.

Face

Most leadership research is related to males since the majority of management roles were historically occupied by men. But as more women take up executive positions, it’s becoming clearer certain female faces are more likely to end up in senior roles.

For once, not looking as youthful as you might wish could pay off. Females with mature looks are often selected over those with baby faces, as they give the impression of being more capable.

Having soft facial features does pay off in times of crisis, however, as it’s been shown young female leaders are preferred during unstable times because they are more cheerful and trustworthy.

Of course, this research is not true for everyone, as leaders – short, small-mouthed and fresh faced among them – are becoming much more diverse.

So why not discover roles of all shapes and sizes with jobs24.com?

Posted on October 20, 2019