Quick Take | Tips to Help Executives and Leaders Grow

The Paradox of Likable Leadership

Susie Tomenchok and James Capps Episode 125

Can you be a good leader and still want to be liked? Or does that instinct hold you back? In this episode, we dig into the tension between being likable and being effective. We talk about how the people-pleasing gene that makes you successful early on can become a liability when tough calls need to be made. From leading your former peers to finding language for your leadership shift, we explore what it takes to step into authority without losing your humanity.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

  • Why “friendly but not friends” is harder than it sounds
  • How to reframe leadership as a persona you grow into
  • What it looks like to value respect over likability

Join the Conversation:
Have you ever struggled with wanting to be liked as a leader? What helped you make the shift? We’d love to hear what conversations are happening on your team.

CONNECT WITH SUSIE:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susietomenchok/

CONNECT WITH JAMES:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/capps/

People on this episode