Are You More Concerned with Being Liked or Being a Leader?

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“Any great leader or coach has to be willing to put it all on the line. You have to be willing to be fired every day when it comes to standing up for what you believe in.” — Billie Jean King

President Jimmy Carter didn’t secure a second term in office. Many label him as a failed politician, and maybe that’s true by conventional standards. But I believe that’s exactly what made him great. During his four years in office, Carter made decisions not for popularity, but for the greater good.

One of his boldest moves? Granting a blanket pardon to those who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. It was deeply unpopular, but Carter understood that healing the nation required bold steps. He did it because it was right, not because it was easy.

Another decision? Issuing an executive order mandating seatbelts and airbags in cars. At the time, it was viewed as government overreach, an infringement on personal freedom. Today, it has saved millions of lives. Carter didn’t shy away from doing the right thing, even though it cost him politically.

Carter also pursued other bold and often unpopular policies. He returned control of the Panama Canal to Panama, despite fierce opposition, because he believed it was the right thing to do for international relations. He prioritized human rights in foreign policy, condemning authoritarian regimes even when they were U.S. allies, because moral leadership mattered more to him than Cold War politics. His push for renewable energy and conservation during the 1970s energy crisis was ahead of its time, though deeply unpopular as it called for personal sacrifice.

Carter knew the risk. He knew these decisions could cost him his job. And they did. But time has shown that he was more than a politician—he was a leader. He made the hard choices, knowing they were necessary, even if it meant losing everything.

This is the price of leadership.

Leadership is about walking that razor’s edge—where the risks are real, and the stakes are high. It’s about not giving into the fear of losing your job. Because if you’re more afraid of losing your job than doing a poor job, you’ll definitely end up doing a poor job. And you might even lose your job anyway.

The truth is, once your team knows you’re holding back to save your job or to try to be liked, they will too. If you don’t stand for your principles, your people will know you don’t stand for anything.

The great leaders follow their mission, vision, and values. They lead boldly and fearlessly, knowing that if their leadership costs them their job, they can find another job. People are always looking to hire the great leaders. 

The great leaders understand this. They know the job is not about playing it safe. It’s about making hard decisions and guiding their teams through adversity, set backs, and losing seasons. Whether it's losing your star player, losing a game, or losing a quarter, leaders are always willing to take that risk

In fact, the best leaders are willing to risk getting fired every single day. They know that leadership is about serving something larger than themselves.

So the questions for every leader are simple: Are you more concerned about keeping your job or doing a good job? Are you more concerned about being liked or being a leader?