Say the interviewer asks you this in a job interview (especially a management-level job interview):
Would you rather be liked or feared?
What will you say?
The best answer is, “Neither. I’d rather be respected.”
Some interviewers won’t accept this and press for a choice.
If I were pressed to choose only one, I would say, “I would rather be liked, because I believe that people go out of their way to help those they like, and feel more invested in our collective success. I think fear is too negative an emotion and wouldn’t produce an environment that is creative, innovative, or motivating to do a great job.”
However, the interviewer may accept your “respect” answer and follow up with a question about how you would inspire respect in your team or employees. One of the best ways to earn respect is to ask great questions, to understand the situation before you make decisions. Many managers do more harm than good by jumping to conclusions and make mistakes that hurt individuals and group morale. A manager who makes decisions based on a complete gathering of evidence makes stronger decisions.
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This question and answer is just one of the 101 job interview questions and answers in my ebook How to Answer Interview Questions II, available on Amazon. (Along with the Keys to a Great Interview!)
If you know there’s a job interview in your future, I encourage you to get this book (How to Answer Interview Questions II) as well as the first book, How to Answer Interview Questions. Both books have 101 job interview questions and answers that will have you ready to stand out in any job interview and get the offer.
