Is it a running joke that your friends found you intimidating before they got to know you? You might be intimidating people more than you realize.<\/p>\n
An intimidating personality is not inherently a bad thing. It\u2019s not that you\u2019re meaning to be aggressive, some people just find certain traits more daunting than others.<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s that you really know what you want, or you don\u2019t have the patience for nonsense. What bothers you might leave others feeling a little jaded and could be harming your professional and personal relationships.<\/p>\n
What does it mean to be an intimidating person? It is someone who makes others feel timid or frightened.<\/p>\n
Such people can be perceived as confrontational, off-putting<\/a>, authoritative, and even aggressive. However, it is not always who they really are – more often than not, people who look intimidating are just blunt<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your bluntness can sometimes be taken the wrong way and cause upset.<\/p>\n Not many people know how to make quick decisions and might wonder how you came to such a fast conclusion.<\/p>\n Not engaging with people can come across as rude and arrogant<\/a>.<\/p>\n No tolerance for ignorance can come across as impatience or hot-headedness.<\/p>\n An intimidating personality is typically led by reason rather than emotion, which can make them seem cold<\/a> and unfeeling.<\/p>\n An intimidating person won’t waste their time listening to chronic complainers<\/a>, which also seems impatient and rude.<\/p>\n Sticking to your moral compass\u00a0is a respectable quality but does make others feel as though they can\u2019t slip up.<\/p>\n Not everyone can do that, and it might mean sacrifices that other people don\u2019t understand or can\u2019t justify to themselves.<\/p>\n Someone with an intimidating personality is unconcerned about pleasing people<\/a>. This can be perceived as a little scary, especially when other people are afraid to ruffle feathers or are a little less secure than you are.<\/p>\n Paradoxically, this good quality<\/a>\u00a0can make others feel uncomfortable. Not everyone is as happy in the unknown as you are.<\/p>\n Being strong-willed\u00a0means you\u2019re not afraid to go against the grain and do things your own way. Some people just don\u2019t know how to forge their own path like you do.<\/p>\n Since not everyone does and not everyone is as brave as you to chase their goals, knowing what you want may seem intimidating enough to other people.<\/p>\n The ability to convince others without being arrogant or aggressive is a great skill, but it can make you seem a little unapproachable.<\/p>\n While it might help you stay on track and watch your progress, it can be intimidating to others who aren\u2019t so organized and aren\u2019t sure what they want.<\/p>\n If you have an intimidating personality, you aren\u2019t swayed by others and you aren\u2019t afraid to take part in a lively debate.<\/p>\n In themselves, these traits are not automatically intimidating, but they can leave people feeling a little nervous.<\/p>\n There are some key signs that your personality is intimidating people<\/em>, but it\u2019s important to understand their body language. Here are 10 telltale signs that people feel intimidated by you.<\/p>\n Avoiding eye contact is a telltale sign someone finds you intimidating. They might feel embarrassed, or perhaps eye contact<\/a> makes them feel vulnerable.<\/p>\n Turning slightly away from you acts as a protective mechanism because that person feels unsafe or unsettled in a situation. By turning away, escape becomes easier.<\/p>\n Speaking quietly,\u00a0which might be annoying to you, is another sign that the other person is afraid.<\/p>\n Speaking in a high tone\u00a0is the same as speaking quietly and can mean that the other person is anxious and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n Others don’t ask questions about yourself because they want to end the conversation as soon as possible and make a swift get away. Of course, they might be self-centered<\/a>, but if other signs are in play, it may be a sign of intimidation.<\/p>\n Fidgeting,\u00a0although not always, can be a sign that someone is not entirely comfortable<\/a> and has a nervous energy that they need to somehow get rid of.<\/p>\n Physical distance creates the perfect protective barrier, allowing someone to install safety between them and the person they are intimidated by. If someone lingers in the doorway or takes a step away from you, it might be a sign that they find your behavior intimidating.<\/p>\n Refusing to offer constructive feedback<\/a> or calling you out when you\u2019re wrong\u00a0is a sign that other people are afraid of how you\u2019ll react. If you only receive positive feedback, it might be down to you being an intimidating person.<\/p>\n Assuming you won\u2019t be on their side,\u00a0either because you don\u2019t handle it very well or because they\u00a0think<\/em> you won\u2019t handle it very well, is another sign that people find your personality intimidating.<\/p>\n Not coming to you for help\u00a0can have to do with the fact that other people don\u2019t want to create situations where they would be around you. If you\u2019re not great with ignorance or poor performance, you might be a difficult person<\/a> to ask for help when it\u2019s really needed.<\/p>\n If you think you are being perceived as an intimidating personality, it might be time that you really ask yourself some questions and address those behaviors.<\/p>\n Little changes in how you interact with people can make a huge difference. Here are four things you can start implementing straight away to make people more comfortable.<\/p>\n Not everyone handles criticism<\/a> in the same way. If you have to tell someone that their performance is lacking, try hearing your words from their perspective.<\/p>\n It’s okay to tell them something isn\u2019t good enough, but you should make an effort to clarify how they can improve in the future. Sit down with them and show them their mistakes and how they can fix them.<\/p>\n We aren\u2019t always going to agree with each other, and people can feel very passionately about certain things. Validating those feelings is a great start to getting them to come around to a new idea or a new way of thinking.<\/p>\n Let them know that you hear them, or that you understand that they feel a certain way before bringing in your perspective. Try to guide them towards a new idea rather than being so quick to get straight to the point.<\/p>\n Small talk<\/a> might be your worst nightmare, but it is an essential part of interpersonal relationships. People want to feel like you are interested in them and their lives.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to share some personal details about yours, either. It makes people feel more comfortable around you and can help soften your intimidating exterior.<\/p>\n Not everyone feels comfortable asking for help<\/a>, especially when they feel intimidated by the person they\u2019re asking it from. If you see someone that is struggling, try offering help before they ask because they might have been too afraid to ask in the first place.<\/p>\n Stay calm<\/a> and respectful, and listen to their problem in full to see how you can assist them. They will definitely appreciate it. When people feel heard, it will also make them more likely to come to you in the future.<\/p>\n Knowing what you want, knowing how to get it, and having the willfulness to go for it are not bad traits, but it\u2019s important to remember that others around you have feelings, too.<\/p>\n Garnering those interpersonal relationships can also help you achieve your goals, even if it isn\u2019t right now. While you should absolutely strive for your success, try to think of others so that you won\u2019t be perceived as an intimidating personality.<\/p>\n References<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Is it a running joke that your friends found you intimidating before they got to know you? You might be intimidating people more than you realize. An intimidating personality is not inherently a bad thing. It\u2019s not that you\u2019re meaning to be aggressive, some people just find certain traits more daunting than others. Maybe it\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":46861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"0","ocean_second_sidebar":"0","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"0","ocean_custom_header_template":"0","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"0","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"off","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[163,297,66],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46860"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learning-mind.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Intimidating personality traits<\/h2>\n
1. Brutal honesty<\/h3>\n
2. Decisiveness<\/h3>\n
3. Disliking small talk<\/h3>\n
4. Zero tolerance for ignorance<\/h3>\n
5. Reliance on logic<\/h3>\n
6. No tolerance for complaining<\/h3>\n
7. Strong moral code<\/h3>\n
8. Sticking to your word<\/h3>\n
9. NOT a people pleaser<\/h3>\n
10. Open-mindedness<\/h3>\n
11. Strong will<\/h3>\n
12. Knowing what you want<\/h3>\n
13. Convincing<\/h3>\n
14. Goal-oriented<\/h3>\n
15. Opinionated<\/h3>\n
Signs that other people find your personality intimidating<\/h2>\n
1. They avoid eye contact<\/h3>\n
2. They turn away<\/h3>\n
3. They speak quietly<\/h3>\n
4. Or they speak in a high tone<\/h3>\n
5. They don’t ask you questions<\/h3>\n
6. They fidget<\/h3>\n
7. They step back<\/h3>\n
8. They are afraid to criticize you<\/h3>\n
9. They don’t seek your support<\/h3>\n
10. They don’t ask you for help<\/h3>\n
How to be less intimidating?<\/h2>\n
1. Be respectful<\/h3>\n
2. Validate other people\u2019s feelings<\/h3>\n
3. Get used to (and get better at) small talk<\/h3>\n
4. Offer help<\/h3>\n
\n