Editor’s note: This article was first published in October 2014. Jack Ma is described as “currently the richest man in China” and Howard Schultz as Starbucks’ leader, both as of then.
Great leaders tend to be associated with a combination of charisma, hard work, preparation and opportunity. But according to a report published by The Economist, certain physical characteristics open doors more easily. To see this, you only have to look at most successful CEOs and the great business leaders of history: most of them share a few very common physical traits.
And while these physical traits are not conclusive, it is undeniable today that an attractive person has many more opportunities than an unattractive one. But there are many other factors.
Height, fitness and tone of voice can all affect how other people perceive us. If we were looking for an “alpha male” of leadership, the most representative example would be Howard Schultz of Starbucks: he is 57, tall, with a body toned by some time at the gym, a broad smile and a deep voice that inspires credibility.
In other words, judging by his physical traits, Howard is the prototype of a leader.
If we now look at the research data, we’ll see that many great leaders match this description.
Leaders tend to be tall.
30% of Fortune 500 CEOs are tall people. In fact, various authors have already explained that the height of people in positions of command translates into earnings. Men earn about 2.5% more for every extra inch of height.
Leaders have deep voices.
The deeper your voice, the deeper your pockets, and your company’s. One of the keys to being a more persuasive and charismatic leader lies precisely in working on your voice. Several studies analysed 790 male CEOs and compared them within the financial sector, finding that executives with deeper voices earned, on average, $187,000 more, and that the companies they worked for had, on average, $440 million more in assets.
Leaders are in shape.
If a CEO says he is a marathon runner, your money will be safer with him. Exercise has long been shown to be a great ally for getting rid of stress and flushing toxins out of the body (and the brain), making our decisions smarter and calmer.
In fact, more and more companies look at a person’s physical condition during the hiring process, because they understand that “the way you look after your body is the way you look after every other part of your personal and working life”.
See also: 10 personality traits you need to be an entrepreneur and succeed in business
So if you want to succeed in your career and become a great leader, being tall, exercising and having a deep voice (being attractive in general) can make the path easier.
Here’s another example: Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba and currently the richest man in China. He’s handsome, tall, has a lovely smile and is very attractive.
OK… he isn’t all that, but this man has shown that hard work, perseverance and being relentless can beat anyone whose only leadership traits are physical. But we insist: being attractive opens doors, and exercise improves your intellectual capacity and decision-making.
Further reading
- 7 business lessons from Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba
- 7 truths about leadership that will make you a better professional
Featured image: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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