what does it mean to have an intimidating personality

Is information technology a running joke that your friends found you intimidating earlier they got to know you? You might exist intimidating people more than you realize.

An intimidating personality is not inherently a bad thing. It'due south non that you're pregnant to be aggressive, some people just find certain traits more daunting than others.

Maybe information technology'south that you actually know what you want, or yous don't accept the patience for nonsense. What bothers you might leave others feeling a little jaded and could be harming your professional and personal relationships.

Intimidating personality definition

What does it mean to be an intimidating person? It is someone who makes others experience timid or frightened.

Such people can exist perceived every bit confrontational, off-putting, authoritative, and even aggressive. However, it is not ever who they really are – more oftentimes than not, people who await intimidating are simply blunt.

Intimidating personality traits

1. Brutal honesty

Your bluntness can sometimes be taken the incorrect way and crusade upset.

2. Decisiveness

Not many people know how to make quick decisions and might wonder how you came to such a fast conclusion.

3. Disliking small-scale talk

Not engaging with people can come beyond as rude and arrogant.

4. Null tolerance for ignorance

No tolerance for ignorance tin can come up beyond as impatience or hot-headedness.

five. Reliance on logic

An intimidating personality is typically led by reason rather than emotion, which tin make them seem cold and unfeeling.

half-dozen. No tolerance for complaining

An intimidating person won't waste their fourth dimension listening to chronic complainers, which also seems impatient and rude.

vii. Stiff moral lawmaking

Sticking to your moral compass is a respectable quality but does make others feel as though they can't sideslip up.

8. Sticking to your discussion

Not everyone can practise that, and it might mean sacrifices that other people don't empathise or can't justify to themselves.

nine. NOT a people pleaser

Someone with an intimidating personality is unconcerned about pleasing people. This can be perceived as a petty scary, specially when other people are afraid to ruffle feathers or are a little less secure than y'all are.

10. Open-mindedness

Paradoxically, this good quality tin can brand others experience uncomfortable. Not everyone is as happy in the unknown as you are.

11. Strong will

Being potent-willed ways you lot're non agape to get against the grain and do things your own way. Some people just don't know how to forge their ain path like yous practise.

12. Knowing what you want

Since non anybody does and non everyone is as brave every bit you to chase their goals, knowing what you want may seem intimidating enough to other people.

xiii. Convincing

The ability to convince others without existence big-headed or aggressive is a cracking skill, but it tin can make you seem a fiddling unapproachable.

14. Goal-oriented

While it might help you lot stay on track and watch your progress, it tin can be intimidating to others who aren't then organized and aren't sure what they want.

15. Opinionated

If you have an intimidating personality, you aren't swayed by others and you aren't agape to take part in a lively debate.

In themselves, these traits are not automatically intimidating, but they can exit people feeling a little nervous.

In that location are some primal signs that your personality is intimidating people, merely information technology'south important to understand their body language. Here are ten telltale signs that people feel intimidated past you.

Signs that other people detect your personality intimidating

1. They avoid center contact

Avoiding center contact is a telltale sign someone finds you intimidating. They might feel embarrassed, or possibly eye contact makes them feel vulnerable.

2. They plow away

Turning slightly away from you acts as a protective mechanism because that person feels dangerous or unsettled in a situation. By turning abroad, escape becomes easier.

3. They speak quietly

Speaking quietly, which might be annoying to you, is another sign that the other person is afraid.

4. Or they speak in a loftier tone

Speaking in a high tone is the same as speaking quietly and tin can mean that the other person is broken-hearted and uncomfortable.

v. They don't enquire you questions

Others don't inquire questions almost yourself considering they want to finish the conversation as presently as possible and brand a swift get away. Of class, they might be self-centered, merely if other signs are in play, it may be a sign of intimidation.

vi. They fidget

Fidgeting, although not always, tin be a sign that someone is not entirely comfortable and has a nervous free energy that they demand to somehow get rid of.

7. They step dorsum

Physical distance creates the perfect protective bulwark, allowing someone to install safety between them and the person they are intimidated by. If someone lingers in the doorway or takes a pace abroad from you lot, it might exist a sign that they observe your behavior intimidating.

8. They are afraid to criticize you

Refusing to offering constructive feedback or calling yous out when yous're wrong is a sign that other people are afraid of how you'll react. If you only receive positive feedback, it might be down to you beingness an intimidating person.

9. They don't seek your support

Bold yous won't be on their side, either because you don't handle it very well or because theythink you won't handle it very well, is some other sign that people notice your personality intimidating.

x. They don't ask y'all for help

Not coming to yous for help can take to practice with the fact that other people don't want to create situations where they would be around y'all. If y'all're not great with ignorance or poor performance, you lot might be a hard person to ask for help when it's really needed.

If y'all retrieve you are being perceived as an intimidating personality, it might exist time that y'all actually enquire yourself some questions and address those behaviors.

Petty changes in how y'all interact with people can make a huge difference. Here are four things y'all can starting time implementing direct away to make people more comfortable.

How to be less intimidating?

1. Exist respectful

Not everyone handles criticism in the aforementioned mode. If you have to tell someone that their performance is lacking, endeavor hearing your words from their perspective.

It'southward okay to tell them something isn't good enough, but you should brand an effort to clarify how they can meliorate in the future. Sit down with them and prove them their mistakes and how they can ready them.

2. Validate other people'south feelings

We aren't always going to agree with each other, and people can experience very passionately virtually certain things. Validating those feelings is a slap-up start to getting them to come around to a new idea or a new way of thinking.

Permit them know that you hear them, or that y'all understand that they experience a certain mode earlier bringing in your perspective. Effort to guide them towards a new idea rather than being and so quick to get straight to the betoken.

3. Get used to (and get better at) small talk

Small talk might be your worst nightmare, but it is an essential part of interpersonal relationships. People want to feel similar you are interested in them and their lives.

Don't be afraid to share some personal details about yours, either. It makes people feel more comfy around you and can help soften your intimidating outside.

4. Offer help

Non everyone feels comfortable request for assistance, particularly when they feel intimidated by the person they're asking it from. If yous see someone that is struggling, try offering aid before they ask because they might have been too afraid to ask in the first identify.

Stay at-home and respectful, and listen to their trouble in full to see how you can help them. They will definitely appreciate information technology. When people feel heard, it will likewise make them more likely to come to you in the hereafter.

Knowing what you want, knowing how to get it, and having the willfulness to go for it are non bad traits, simply information technology'due south of import to remember that others around you take feelings, too.

Garnering those interpersonal relationships can too help you achieve your goals, even if information technology isn't right now. While you should absolutely strive for your success, try to think of others and then that yous won't be perceived every bit an intimidating personality.

References:

the power of misfits

https://www.businessinsider.com
https://world wide web.psychologytoday.com

Writer
Recent Posts

Contributing writer at Learning Listen

Francesca Forsythe is a professional writer who holds a dual award Principal's degree in European Law and Philosophy of Constabulary from Leiden University. She has written for several websites on a range of subjects across lifestyle, relationships, and health & fitness, as well as bookish pieces in her fields of study.