The way a person presents themselves to others creates an intimidating impression which does not require the person to show any mean or aggressive behavior. The people who display extreme focus and confidence and natural quietness usually create feelings of intimidation in others. The people around you create strange behavior because you do not try to scare them. The way you act friendly creates a problem for others who need to establish their balance around you.
People Rarely Make Eye Contact First
People who notice your entrance into a room or a conversation will begin to look away or direct their attention toward their phones. The ability to maintain eye contact for extended periods requires a person to have high self-assurance. The people who perceive themselves as smaller than you will automatically avoid looking at you because they want to prevent a situation that might lead to a fight.
They Over-Explain Themselves
The person who delivers long explanations for basic errors and routine decisions shows intimidation through their behavior. The person who values your opinion highly needs to defend themselves to you before you can ask them anything.
The Room Goes Quiet When You Arrive
The people in the room showed no interest in discussing you. Your presence creates a strong force that attracts people toward you. People will stop their informal conversations because they feel the need to behave in a more professional and correct manner around you. The people in the room wait for you to establish the appropriate atmosphere.
They Fidget or Seem Nervous
The body displays anxiety through common behaviors such as tapping feet and playing with hair and repeatedly checking the time. The person who displays these particular behaviors only when interacting with you demonstrates that your presence creates more energy than their nervous system can handle.
You Get Short, “Safe” Answers
The people who feel intimidated will respond to questions with single-word responses which include Yes and No and Fine. The people in the group attempt to avoid being disrespectful through their behavior because they want to protect themselves from saying something incorrect and becoming embarrassed in front of you. They choose to maintain a low profile because it helps them defend their self-esteem.
People Mirror Your Body Language Excessively
People who feel intimidated will mirror your body movements back to you at an almost complete level through their natural human instinct to build rapport. The people in the group try to establish connection with you through their body movements which will make them feel secure during the interaction and retrieve your positive perception of them.
They Agree With Everything You Say
The people who disagree with you in all situations do not think you are correct. People refuse to challenge your authority because they experience too much fear. The people will nod their heads in agreement instead of challenging someone who seems to possess greater strength and intelligence than themselves.
You Are Rarely Included in Casual “Office Talk”
The people in the office will invite you to attend significant meetings but they never invite you to join their casual coffee break conversations. The group maintains an unintentional barrier which prevents you from joining their activities because they believe you possess too much busyness and importance which makes you unfit for light social interactions.
They Apologize for No Reason
The person who uses the term sorry too frequently needs to identify their source because you see them worrying even when nothing bad has happened. The person attempts to create a non-threatening persona which will prevent any possibility of conflict between you both.
They Ask for Permission Constantly
The people who feel intimidated will seek your approval when they fulfill tasks which they already possess the knowledge to accomplish. The people request your approval for every matter because they fear making decisions which could lead to your disappointment or failure to reach your expectations.
