09/03/2026
YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE EVERYONE’S FAVORITE BOSS.
Read that again.
One of the biggest fears leaders have is:
“What if my team doesn’t like me?” or even one I've gotten a few times, "How can I lead people that are OLDER than me?"
So they avoid the hard conversation. They let things slide. They lower expectations. They make exceptions. They sugarcoat feedback.
All because they’re worried about being the “bad guy or too young.”
Here’s the problem:
Leadership isn’t a popularity contest.
Your job isn’t to make everyone happy.
Your job is to create clarity.
Set expectations.
Hold people accountable.
Have the uncomfortable conversations.
Make decisions.
And sometimes… say NO.
Your team doesn’t need another friend.
They need a leader they can trust.
And sometimes being trusted means being willing to p**s someone off.
Stop trying to be liked.
Start trying to be respected.
That’s leadership.