I’ve been thinking about likability a lot – in the context of the upcoming election, in company leaders, in myself.
What’s interesting is the same individual’s actions can be perceived by some as arrogant and by others as confident. Where someone draws the line is dependent on whether they view the actions in a positive or negative light i.e. if they are likable or not.
As I built up confidence over the course my career, I neglected to consider enough this aspect of likability and subsequently struggled to be an effective leader. I’ve found a lot more success by intentionally focusing on others.
Being attuned to folks’ perception is essential to modulating one’s own behavior to be likable, and likable leaders are key to building successful teams. For me, every day is an exercise in emotional intelligence and self-reflection to stay in the good graces of those around me.
Originally posted on LinkedIn.