Authentic leaders are perceived as more ______ by their followers.

A) intelligent
B) competitive
C) experienced
D) believable

Authentic leaders are perceived as more believable by their followers because they demonstrate transparency, honesty, and consistency in their words and actions. This fosters trust and respect, which are essential for effective leadership. While intelligence, competition, and experience are also important qualities of a leader, authenticity is particularly important for building strong relationships with followers.