What is the value of posturing and making yourself to look better than you are?
There were certainly evolutionarily benefits to appearing fit, and many of those benefits persist.
Marketing yourself as an expert could eventually work. When people think you are smart, it is a self fulfilling prophecy because most advice is determined by what people do with it. If they believe you, they will do more with the advice. Even if the reasons they believe you are not based on anything other than your posture.
There are also downsides to posturing. I think men particularly have a hard time not conveying a certain image of toughness. This leads to mental health issues that compound after going unaddressed for years. It would do many of us well to stop posturing for a second and acknowledge a moment of challenge.
Rather than relying on posturing, the more reliable way to win is to gain trust. Build trust with authentic relationships and real moments. It’s a long route, but it will get you all the upside without the downside of putting on a mask every day.