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Are bold and energetic people perceived as more competent?

What's the key reason why Donald Trump mania is sweeping the nation?

For one, the real estate mogul and Republican presidential candidate has a larger-than-life personality. Yes, he's arrogant. Yes, he's bombastic. Yes, he speaks his mind and doesn't apologize for it.

You'd think this would be the recipe for a catastrophic campaign, but Donald Trump is leading in the polls -- and it isn't even close right now.

Why has he had so much success?

People credit him with being the only one with enough bravado to voice what's on his and every other candidate's mind. As an outsider from the world of business, he's appealed to people who are sick of politics getting in the way of progress on Capitol Hill.

It goes without saying that Trump's flamboyance has allowed him to easily overshadow his more sedate opponents. Watching last night's debate, you got the feeling that guys like Rand Paul and Chris Christie strove to show that they, too, could get fired up.

As usual, though, Trump sucked up all the air in the arena and was the star of the show.

I think people who display loads of self-confidence and a virtually limitless level of energy like he does are more likely to be perceived as leaders. They are also deemed more competent.

Though it might very well be that most people who possess these attributes do make great leaders, it isn't always the case. I've seen far too many arrogant and disrespectful people in the workplace end up in cushy VP jobs.

How does this happen? It's quite easy. People mistake their haughtiness for self-confidence. Their willingness to speak their mind is construed as an asset. And they don't care if they get in trouble sometimes -- as long as it means they can get the attention they so relish.

Guys like Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Scott Walker seem vanilla by comparison. Many people think that candidates with a laid-back attitude don't have what it takes to stand up to special interests or make the case for much-needed reforms, for example.

But history has shown us that even quiet guys can make great leaders. Look at Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. They prefer to stay away from the limelight and let their work do the talking. Teddy Roosevelt once spoke about speaking softly and carrying big stick. Well, men like these have certainly lived up to that and gone on to become respected, successful businessmen.

People who are quiet and unassuming shouldn't be perceived as weak. They, too, can be one of the great inventors, politicians, or CEOs of tomorrow. Unfortunately, though, not too many people have caught on to that yet.

What are your thoughts?

Please check other posts here How to Understand People.

And here's a related post from earlier today:

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