Can I Lead Without Being Liked?

Startup Therapy

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the pressures of leading a Startup team. It’s a Founder’s job to make difficult and unpopular decisions, even unconventional ones, which may merit the team's unfavorable reactions. Over time, these unpopular decisions make a Founder less likable. So then, at what point will being likable still matter?

Sign up for the Startups Newsletter

https://www.startups.com/newsletter

Resources:

  • Startup Therapy Podcast
  • https://www.startups.com/begin
  • Join our Network of Top Founders 
  • Send an email to therapy@startups.com 

What to Listen For

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 00:30 As we lead, how important is it that we're liked?
  • 05:29 Making fundamentally unpopular decisions to grow
  • 11:56 When we’re starting, we build good relationships with people
  • 16:00 You’re a cool boss but you aren’t invited in team lunches
  • 19:23 The expectation for you to say ‘Yes’ all the time
  • 21:47 What about when decisions don’t map back to you?
  • 23:23 Even if you aren’t liked, you have to be respected
  • 28:39 Everyone loves you, but you’re doing a bad job
  • 32:43 Make difficult decisions but still empathize
  • 37:22 As the organization grows, there will be more people not connected to you
  • 39:39 Things you can do to seed some goodwill

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada