Can I Lead Without Being Liked?

<p>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?</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Sign up for the Startups Newsletter</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.startups.com/newsletter"><strong>https://www.startups.com/newsletter</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources:</strong></p><ul> <li><a href="https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapy">Startup Therapy Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.startups.com/begin">https://www.startups.com/begin</a></li> <li>Join our <a href="https://www.startups.com/community/founder-groups">Network of Top Founders</a> </li> <li>Send an email to <a href="mailto:therapy@startups.com">therapy@startups.com</a> </li> </ul><p><br></p><p><strong>What to Listen For</strong></p><ul> <li>00:00 Intro</li> <li>00:30 As we lead, how important is it that we're liked?</li> <li>05:29 Making fundamentally unpopular decisions to grow</li> <li>11:56 When we’re starting, we build good relationships with people</li> <li>16:00 You’re a cool boss but you aren’t invited in team lunches</li> <li>19:23 The expectation for you to say ‘Yes’ all the time</li> <li>21:47 What about when decisions don’t map back to you?</li> <li>23:23 Even if you aren’t liked, you have to be respected</li> <li>28:39 Everyone loves you, but you’re doing a bad job</li> <li>32:43 Make difficult decisions but still empathize</li> <li>37:22 As the organization grows, there will be more people not connected to you</li> <li>39:39 Things you can do to seed some goodwill</li> </ul>