Written by Greg Ikner on April 30, 2010 – 11:33 AM
One of the toughest questions you will be asked where you will really need to be decisive with your response. How would you answer this question? Below are excerpts from business professionals who were willing to share their response to this question.
“As a leader, one would have a very difficult time attempting to please EVERYONE. While your employees may not LIKE you for decisions that you have made for the benefit the company, they will often RESPECT you because you have made a decision. Therefore, I believe that it important in a successful business one needs to be RESPECTED. If your team LIKES you afterwards, that is awesome” Founder and Managing Director
“I would say liked. Business is all about relationships. First comes likeability, then comes respect. Additionally, you can’t respect someone or something that you are not knowledgeable of… and how are you drawn to learn about something??? – b/c there is an affinity or interest”. Business Analyst
“Respect is paramount. In leadership managers have a fiduciary duty to their organization and stockholders to represent its best interest. If “likeability” and “respect” are ever in conflict, respect must prevail. Difficult decisions often impact people, which influence a leader’s likeability. If these two are ever in conflict likeability should be sacrificed”. AVP & Regional Claims Manager
“The combination of both is ideal. However, if I were to choose one. I would look for the respect more than likability factor. Based on experience the results of your decision making capability commands and attracts greater results that achieve the respect that we all can appreciate”. Project Coordinator.
“Leaders who find themselves well liked sometimes sacrifice their own integrity to gain that popularity. Then they have the illusion they are respected as well, and more often than not turns out NOT to be the case, and they find out under the most inconvenient of circumstances. A respected leader, or follower for that matter, is an asset to any organization, because they maintain integrity and can be assured a more honest perception of the relationship they hold with those they work with”. Regional Marketing
“Wow! This is an issue I find myself discussing a lot. Thanks for posting this.
As a leader, I would rather be RESPECTED. There are many times that tough decisions have to be made and if I sacrifice respect for likability, I’m not sure I’m serving constituents to the best of my ability. I see a lot of people losing objectivity trying to please others and be liked. With me, I hope that people know where I’m coming from 100% of the time and expect no partiality. Yes, I WANT to be liked but I NEED to be respected”. Innovative Technology Manager
This is really a softening of Machiavelli’s assertion that it is better to be feared than loved. A parallel question deserves a parallel answer, it is better to be respected. Machiavelli made the point that people are fickled. The affections of those that love you today, are easily replaced by a newer love. Love, or as in this case like, is easily turned.
Respect is more permanent although it is harder to obtain. Respect frees you to act in the best interest of the organization, like binds you. Accept that in life there are always going to be people that don’t like you. Focus on being effective and you will earn their respect whether they like you or not.