I once had a new leader tell me that they would be devastated if they knew that their direct reports were complaining about them. ‘Of course they’ll complain about you’, I replied. It doesn’t matter how great a leader you are (or think you are), at some point people aren’t going to like your decision or approach or your handling of a situation. That’s truth. But, as an early mentor of mine once advised, ‘it’s better to be respected than liked’. Be consistent. Let people know what’s expected. Follow through on your promises. These are simple ways to build that foundation of respect that will carry you over the speed bumps of the relationships when people ‘don’t like’ you.
#leadershiptruth
