FeedFor me, the most surprising news story of the week has to be that successful leadership is not just the combination of skills, knowledge and abilities that we thought it to be but also, according to one piece of research, a matter of looks!
Under the strap line 'appearance is just as important as attitude', the story reports that for male managers, 'a pronounced brow and forehead were found to be trusted, while for women, thin eyebrows, wider eyes and fuller lips made up the face of a future inspirational leader.'
For a minute there, I thought we were harking back to the 17th Century, where scientists like Cesar Lombroso proclaimed that one's physical appearance could determine criminality. If you were bald, had a large jaw/chin, a nose that was hawk like, flattened or upturned and the classic 'shifty' eyes, you were pretty much bang to rights! The England rugby team will be pleased to know that this theory has now run its course.
Back to the modern day, and let's be clear - for most roles there is no evidence at all that what you look like has any impact on your actual ability to do the job, whether it be leadership or bin collecting!
What is interesting, however, is that your physical appearance can influence people's perceptions and attitudes towards you. Research has shown that, in court cases, attractive individuals tend to get lower fines and bail limits set. It also suggests voters base their choice of candidate, at least in part, on how competent the candidates look. Behind the sensationalist headline what this research seems to be saying is that certain physical attributes are perceived more positively than others in leaders; your followers will believe you are more trustworthy/inspirational if you have a pronounced forehead/thin eye brows.
So, does this mean that the attractive, competent-looking leaders have had an easier ride to the top just because of their appearance? Could that mean that those not blessed in the looks department are actually better leaders, because they've had to demonstrate a higher level of competence to get where they are? Who knows - but it's an interesting idea! Handsome Barack Obama's meteoric rise to the White House certainly does nothing to discredit the theory!
Having said that, I don't think the business leaders with small foreheads and bushy eyebrows need to fear for their roles just yet.
Apart from the fact that there's no actual link between competency and appearance, at least in terms of IQ, most research into leaders who fail finds that rather than their appearance; it is their people skills and flexibility that cause them the most professional difficulty. Problems with interpersonal relationships, failure to build and lead a team, and inability to change or adapt during a transition are all key predictors of derailment at this level. The pressure of the current economic climate makes all these factors even greater risks for any leader or manager of people.
So, the best bit of advice I can give is for leaders and managers to pay close attention to their teams and working relationships, and give the tweezers a miss!
Under the strap line 'appearance is just as important as attitude', the story reports that for male managers, 'a pronounced brow and forehead were found to be trusted, while for women, thin eyebrows, wider eyes and fuller lips made up the face of a future inspirational leader.'
For a minute there, I thought we were harking back to the 17th Century, where scientists like Cesar Lombroso proclaimed that one's physical appearance could determine criminality. If you were bald, had a large jaw/chin, a nose that was hawk like, flattened or upturned and the classic 'shifty' eyes, you were pretty much bang to rights! The England rugby team will be pleased to know that this theory has now run its course.
Back to the modern day, and let's be clear - for most roles there is no evidence at all that what you look like has any impact on your actual ability to do the job, whether it be leadership or bin collecting!
What is interesting, however, is that your physical appearance can influence people's perceptions and attitudes towards you. Research has shown that, in court cases, attractive individuals tend to get lower fines and bail limits set. It also suggests voters base their choice of candidate, at least in part, on how competent the candidates look. Behind the sensationalist headline what this research seems to be saying is that certain physical attributes are perceived more positively than others in leaders; your followers will believe you are more trustworthy/inspirational if you have a pronounced forehead/thin eye brows.
So, does this mean that the attractive, competent-looking leaders have had an easier ride to the top just because of their appearance? Could that mean that those not blessed in the looks department are actually better leaders, because they've had to demonstrate a higher level of competence to get where they are? Who knows - but it's an interesting idea! Handsome Barack Obama's meteoric rise to the White House certainly does nothing to discredit the theory!
Having said that, I don't think the business leaders with small foreheads and bushy eyebrows need to fear for their roles just yet.
Apart from the fact that there's no actual link between competency and appearance, at least in terms of IQ, most research into leaders who fail finds that rather than their appearance; it is their people skills and flexibility that cause them the most professional difficulty. Problems with interpersonal relationships, failure to build and lead a team, and inability to change or adapt during a transition are all key predictors of derailment at this level. The pressure of the current economic climate makes all these factors even greater risks for any leader or manager of people.
So, the best bit of advice I can give is for leaders and managers to pay close attention to their teams and working relationships, and give the tweezers a miss!
