I'm a smart leader, and I am disliked. And it's this exact tone that they dislike most.
They feel I lack empathy, but empathy is why I do it.
And when someone likes me, I know they know we know what's up. That's also why I do it.
I find those who work hard to be liked creepy. I also find managers and supervisors who are paid to be your friend disingenuous. And I'm not going to butter someone up before I tell them they made a mistake. The last thing I want is to spoil them or keep them in a bubble. But I'll also tell them to focus on the problem, and not themselves. Don't be part of the problem.
Being liked is work in business. In our private lives it's personal preference, but you can also choose your friends. Professionally, it's a strategic decision, because it will inevitably involve people you may struggle to like personally.
The prevalent anti-intellectualism does intellects injustice more than anything else. Many would rather be spoiled than informed. They'd rather protect their ego than gain competence. They'd rather be forgiven than corrected for their mistakes. And they'd rather be paid for being who they are, than be told they need to work or put in the work.
No one is paid for being who they are, not even celebrities. We're all being paid for our work. Our image is part of our work, even for non-celebrities.
Anti-intellectualism is also at the root of anti-professionalism. And it's a huge issue in America.
Out of pragmatism, out of optimism, and out of empathy, I am sorry, but I choose to be unapologetically professional.
I am the apologetic asshole.
And that's what's up.
(didn't expect this comment to turn out this way, but I'm submitting it anyway)