While intelligence and level-headedness might seem more important for people wishing to exude¹ management potential, researchers at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business identified an overwhelming connection between physical prowess and high status.

 

For the published study, titled 'The role of physical formidability in human social status allocation', a selection of men underwent strength tests before being photographed. Volunteers were then shown and told they were looking at candidates newly hired by a consultancy firm.

 

Next they were asked to rate each man based on how much they admired him, held him in high esteem², how much they could imagine his career progressing, and how he might respond to others in his company.

 

"The physically³ strong men in the pictures were given higher status because they are perceived as leaders," said Professor Cameron Anderson, who led the study with Professor Aaron Lukaszewski. "Our findings are consistent with a lot of real examples of strong men in positions of power."

 

Russian president Vladimir Putin would certainly see his strapping⁴ figure as an example of the findings - though with height a factor, his case is weakened by being only 5ft 7in. Barack Obama, meanwhile, who keeps his 6ft 2in frame lean with regular basketball, may be a more convincing case study.

 

Not all is lost for diminutive⁵, physically feeble leaders, however. While the gym may boost one's chances of being seen as capable, Professor Cameron insists it isn't the only thing.

 

"If you're behaving in ways that demonstrate you are a leader or are not a leader, strength doesn't matter," he says.

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