Someone with a very large signature rarely admits his mistakes and throws his weight around. A big signature means the writer could be narcissistic.
What big signature means
A research published in 2013 found that companies led by a CEO with a large signature perform worse than ones led by CEOs with small signatures.
The research compared the signatures of some 605 CEOs of US firms and found that size does matter as far as the bosses’ autographs are concerned. It concluded that a CEO with a large signature also tended to get the highest pay, but was more likely to run his company into the ground.
The study by academics at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina took the signatures of CEOs from company accounts filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
As a handwriting analysis website, we get a lot of questions about what a big signature means. Since we cannot answer everyone individually, this handwriting analysis article will tell you 7 things you should know about what a large signature reveals about the writer’s personality.
1. Large signature and narcissism
A report finds large signature belongs to narcissistic people. Also, a big signature means the writer can trample upon other people’s feelings.
The authors of the research identified narcissism as an egotistical character trait ‘associated with conceit and disregard for others’ in CEOs with large signatures. They said: ‘Narcissism creates biased self-perception in the form of upwardly biased evaluation of one’s own abilities and performance.’
According to Professor Sean Wang, one of three authors of the study, he and his co-authors relied on findings from previous psychological studies which claimed that bigger signatures mean bigger egos.
Professor Seybert, one of the researches, said,
Obviously, we can’t say that everyone with a large signature is a narcissist…. But the study I did does show that when an annual report has a big CEO signature on it, a firm will, on average, spend more on capital goods, R&D, and acquisitions than its industry peers, yet show worse sales and sales growth over the next three to six years.”
2. Large signature and ego
Handwriting analysis says people who write large capitals have an exaggerated sense of their own abilities. They are extremely independent, and they make decisions thinking that they can never make mistakes.
According to signature analysis, people with very large signatures rarely admit their mistakes, and always keep boasting. When such a writer is in a position of power, he usually gives a free rein to his arrogance, and is overbearing and high-handed.
Using the size of the signature as a proxy for the writers’ narcissism, the researched also found that ‘narcissistic CEOs invest more in capital expenditures and acquisitions’. But they pay lower dividends, with over-investments being largest in magnitude when financial slack is high.
In addition, narcissistic CEOs exhibit worse performance as measured by the contemporaneous return on assets, with the effects being largest when operating environments are most uncertain.
3. A big signature means boisterous
At my former workplace, my boss was often found screaming at his colleagues – sometimes without particularly serious reasons.
He would frequently lose his cool without a warning and he was offensively bold most of time, disrespecting his co-workers and showing utmost contempt for them.
One day I saw his handwriting and the signature. He had a large signature and his overall handwriting was disorganised.
See the signature below. (It’s not the original signature: it has been used just to show the size.)
A very big signature means an exaggerated view of the writer’s abilities.
Notice the huge first capital letters in the name and the surname. According to signature analysis, the size of the capital letter reflects the importance the writer associates with himself.
By the way, if you a hated bad boss, I recommend that you read this article on what changes you need to make in your own signature.
4. A big signature means conceited movement
When the capital letter is as huge as you see the sample signature above and if it co-exists with a long t-bar, it shows that the writer is conceited.
If the writer feels that others are not giving him the respect he deserves, he loses his cool. If the signature has a little flourish as well, the writer believes he is extremely important and thinks that others should consider him that way.
5. Exaggerated view of own abilities
People who write such large capitals have an exaggerated sense of their own abilities. They are extremely independent, and they make decisions thinking that they can never make mistakes.
In fact, they rarely admit their mistakes, and always keep boasting.
Someone who writes huge capital letters in a large signature shows little respect for those around him. A very big signature means the writer is not interested in listening to other people’s viewpoints.
6. A big signature means abuse of power
When such a writer is in a position of power, he usually gives a free rein to his arrogance, and is overbearing and high-handed.
As a parent, he is domineering, and can denigrate others in order to feel better about himself. Such writers walk around with a great deal of eccentricity, and they seldom appear modest or show humility.
7. Lack of concern for others
Someone who writes huge capital letters in a large signature shows little respect for those around him. A big signature means always disturbs others with his tasteless laughter or rumbustious behaviour.
In fact, such writers talk only about their own point of view and seldom listen to others. You would be surprised to know that in their sex lives, such writers are sometimes concerned only about their own enjoyment.
If you want to know whether your signature is faulty and it needs to be changed, let us know.
Disclaimer: One element of handwriting may be analysed at a time, but always look at the entire handwriting sample before arriving at any conclusion.
