Ep 100: Should Managers Be Liked or Respected?

There’s a long-standing myth in management: “You’re not here to be liked—you’re here to be respected.” But what if that mindset is sabotaging your team?

In this episode of The Love Monday Podcast, Ryan Houmand challenges the false dichotomy of being liked vs. respected as a leader. Drawing on research from Gallup, Google’s Project Oxygen, and Don Clifton’s Soar with Your Strengths, Ryan makes a compelling case for why likability isn’t a weakness—it’s a superpower.

You’ll learn:

• Why managers who are liked and invested get better performance
• The real reason so many leaders avoid being close to their people
• How fear-based leadership backfires in today’s workplace
• What the data says about employee engagement, trust, and retention
• How to build meaningful work relationships without losing authority

Whether you’re a new manager or a seasoned leader, this episode will help you rethink how connection and care drive productivity—and why employees don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses they don’t like.

🧠 Relevant for:
People leaders, HR pros, engagement geeks, and anyone tired of the old-school, fear-based leadership model.

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