Clear is trusted. Unclear is just liked.

We don't talk enough about the cost of being liked.

• •Liked leaders avoid conflict and call it harmony
• •They smile while your performance plateaus
• •They say "you're doing great" when you're clearly not

That's not leadership.

That's image management.

Trusted leaders operate differently.

They'll say:

"This isn't good enough. Here's how to fix it."

They respect you enough to be honest.

Even when it's hard.

Especially when it is.

The Liked Leader Trap:

• •Avoids confrontation → Problems grow quietly
• •Gives vague feedback → Progress stalls
• •Seeks approval → Burns out trying to please everyone
• •Makes easy decisions → Team loses clarity and direction

The Trusted Leader Standard:

• •Confronts issues early → Accountability builds
• •Offers direct feedback → Growth accelerates
• •Sets boundaries → Energy and focus stay high
• •Makes fair decisions → Trust deepens over time

Think about it:

• •The teacher who challenged you changed your path
• •The coach who pushed you built more than just skill
• •The friend who told you the hard truth earned your lifelong respect

Application:

Next time you're tempted to be liked, soften feedback, delay hard conversations, or avoid disappointing someone, ask yourself:

"Am I leading to be liked, or to be trusted?"

Because being liked is about you.

Being trusted is about them.

Which one are you building?