Would you rather be liked or be respected?

[torpid]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
If anyone ever asks me this mundane, loaded and ridiculously vague question in an interview, I promise to stand up and leave.

They would therefore infer that your answer is, "I'd rather be neither liked NOR respected"

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
If anyone ever asks me this mundane, loaded and ridiculously vague question in an interview, I promise to stand up and leave.

in this point of my life/career , i agree

but if they want to ask the kids just out of college stupid questions, that is ok

 

[jjones]

Respected. I'm not looking for friends and if I'm respected, that must mean I'm doing something worthy of respect, which presumably would be the competent performance of my job.

By the way, this is not such a silly question, especially when considering candidates for management positions.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: LoKe
I respect the people I like, otherwise why would I like them? So, I'd go with liked.

I don't have a lot of respect for all the people that I like...sometimes I like them simply because they are fun or because they usually pay the tab when we hang out.

Imo, we always like those who we respect, but don't always respect those who we like.

So definitely I'd rather be respected.

 

[DrPizza]

"I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. In fact, I can't think of a single person I like who I don't respect. Since you're asking this question in relation to a position at this firm, I can assure you that my opinion is that when people do things that aren't respectable, just to earn the friendship of others, they earn neither respect nor my friendship. "

 

[Crono]

Respect. Respect is harder to earn and is more valuable. It's "truer" and purer in the sense that it is harder to fake than favor. A lot of people don't like me because of my beliefs and core character, but I'm not going to change those things for the sake of being liked. I refuse to put up a front or wear a mask, so those who like me like me for who I am, and they also respect me. I don't want the respect, though, of people who don't know me fully (including faults and weaknesses). Being liked is fine, and it makes it more pleasant in the workplace, but having the respect of your peers and those above or below you and allows you to do your job without the fear of losing favor affecting your judgment. Making friends and keeping friends is good, but not at the cost of forgoing what is right.

 

[Rage187]

respected

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
"I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. In fact, I can't think of a single person I like who I don't respect. Since you're asking this question in relation to a position at this firm, I can assure you that my opinion is that when people do things that aren't respectable, just to earn the friendship of others, they earn neither respect nor my friendship. "

Well, similarly, when people do things that are unpopular just to earn the respect of others, they earn neither respect nor friendship. I don't think that is relevant. You should do something because it is the right thing to do, regardless of whether people respect you and like you for it or not.

I can think of several people I like but don't respect. And a few people I respect but don't like.

 

[compman25]

respected

 

[soydios]

no reason you can't do both

 

[RossMAN]

It's work, not a place to socialize.

Respected FTW

 

[Platypus]

Respected no doubt.

 

[rocadelpunk]

reminds me of the office : P

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Um... Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." m-scott

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Edit: This is what my coworker told me--he was the one that was asked the question (not me). He also told me the "correct answer" after asking the interviewer was that one should prefer to be liked.

I don't know. Personally, I feel that respect is more important as it is work related.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Edit: This is what my coworker told me--he was the one that was asked the question (not me). He also told me the "correct answer" after asking the interviewer was that one should prefer to be liked.

I don't know. Personally, I feel that respect is more important as it is work related.

Assuming that you are doing a good job either way and the only difference is how people perceive you, being liked is more important, I think.

 

[zinfamous]

you can respect someone but also despise them. makes for a crappy work situation. It's one thing for people to realize that this person is the best worker in the place, but if no one wants to deal with them, it creates worse issues.

 

[deepred98]

uh liked?

if your liked than you can convince people to do things whereas if you are respected but a douchebag then everyone will try to undermine you. of course if your liked because your stupid then your boned

 

[Epic Fail]

Men and fuglies respect me.

Hot co-workers like me.

 

[Crono]

Thinking about this question again, it really depends a lot on what you are being liked or respected for and the people who are doing the liking or respecting. Without specifics, the question is too general to answer in any way that would be considered "correct" - this question really must be to evaluate someone psychologically, which is why I guess they ask these type of questions at job interviews. I'm assuming you would have to explain why you think either being liked or respected is more important.

 

[Skunkwourk]

all this time and no poll?

 

[oogabooga]

I'd rather they respect me as their coworker/employee than like me but not have it within them to respect me.

It'd a bit odd to put respect in the context of a strict headmaster type. There are plenty of people I like and respect (for their ability rather than their position and demeanor)

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: meltdown75
If anyone ever asks me this mundane, loaded and ridiculously vague question in an interview, I promise to stand up and leave.

They would therefore infer that your answer is, "I'd rather be neither liked NOR respected"

I was just kidding, don't get all internetty on me.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Edit: This is what my coworker told me--he was the one that was asked the question (not me). He also told me the "correct answer" after asking the interviewer was that one should prefer to be liked.

I don't know. Personally, I feel that respect is more important as it is work related.

I'd say that the interviewer is a nitwit in most cases.

I've met many coworkers and managers who I didn't like but I respected because I knew they would get the job done or they had excellent problem solving skills or they could utilize their personnel effectively. They just rubbed me the wrong way and I wasn't alone in this perception.

I've met others that were very likeable but completely incompetent at their job. If I had to be involved with them in a project, it was a real chore working with them. I've also met managers who were absolutely horrible because they wanted to be liked so badly they couldn't manage those under them.

I'll take the coworker or manager striving to be respected over the one striving to be liked any day. Of course, it's always nice when you both like and respect that person.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
well?

Edit: This is what my coworker told me--he was the one that was asked the question (not me). He also told me the "correct answer" after asking the interviewer was that one should prefer to be liked.

I don't know. Personally, I feel that respect is more important as it is work related.

If he walked through the door with a "correct" response already in mind, he should be discouraged from asking any such questions at future interviews, or just encouraged not to participate in the interview process.

The "correct" answer is one that is explained in a cohesive way.

Also, these kinds of questions reek of "I didn't bother to come up with any useful questions, so here's something I grabbed out of one of those terrible 'questions to ask at interviews' books".

 

[crystal]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
you can respect someone but also despise them. makes for a crappy work situation. It's one thing for people to realize that this person is the best worker in the place, but if no one wants to deal with them, it creates worse issues.

This is very true. I know a few situation are like this. You could be the master of your field, but if the people you work with hate your guts, you will not get anything done. They will make excuses, ignore you, drag their feet rather than working with you. One mistake from you and you will not heard the end of it. If you are like, they will cover or forgive you for your mistake. So what if the products is not 100% perfect or it takes a few day longer finish, if everyone are happy then work environments are more productive in the long run. The saying... No man is an island had some truth to it.