Willie Rennie is an affable person with an easy smile, a willing laugh and a genuine interest in whoever he is speaking to.
Don’t mistake that for a lack of steel or self belief, though.
Asked if he would have any problems juggling being party leader with covering his newly won North East Fife constituency, he replied: “Nah, I’m brilliant at it so it’s not going to be a problem. I’ve done it before. I was covering a massive region, almost the length of Scotland.”
It was done, it must be said, with that trademark chuckle and grin but it is clear he has a strategy he thinks will succeed.
“Now I’ve got a much more concise area I understand, it’s my home territory, so I’ll manage. I’ve got a good team of councillors in the area.”
There has also been cross party support from the SNP’s representative for the area at Westminster, Stephen Gethins.
Rennie is a big fan of his counterpart and is hoping they can work well together on local issues.
It’s clear representing his home patch is something which means a lot to him too.
He said: “When you’re the parliamentarian for the street that your dad grew up and where your grandfather was the minister and where you used to make gang huts as a tearaway little boy and then burn them down when you were finished with them, it’s pretty special.
“And when you knock on the door and you meet an old school friend who you haven’t seen in a long, long time or somebody knows your dad or the shop or – and this is the truth – was married by your grandfather in Newburgh and the surrounding area, it is pretty special.
“You’re quite proud about what you’ve achieved but therefore feel a big responsibility not to muck it up.”
Rennie also reckons his party has “turned the corner and are on the right path back” despite returning the same number of MSPs as in 2011 and being relegated to fifth place at the Scottish Parliament.
Having gained two constituency seats and increased majorities in the other two, it is possible to see where his confidence comes from.
Only time will tell whether or not it has been well placed.
