Ugly mugs may make for effective leaders

Sir Winston Churchill’s lopsided features may have helped him lead Britain to victory in the war against Hitler, research suggests.

In a surprising discovery, psychologists have found that people lacking body symmetry make the most effective leaders.

Usually, symmetry – having a body with matching left and right sides – is seen as a hallmark of beauty, fitness and strength.

People might be expected to look up to symmetrical, attractive individuals. But it appears the most successful leaders in politics and business may be those with irregular features.

Having “unlucky” looks in terms of symmetry forces people to develop the social skills that can motivate and inspire others, the researchers believe.

Sir Winston’s crumpled “bulldog” features were far from balanced, yet he rallied the nation in the Second World War.

The research was carried out by Aston University in Birmingham and is published in the Harvard Business Review.