Three Things: 5 Ways We Will Make Enemies No Matter What We Do - And How To Cope

Three Things I Learned This Week In Saas, Sports, Tech & Live Events - Three ways we learned we will make enemies in a leadership role, no matter what we do. Most people want to be liked. When we're not, we'd like to mend the fence and clear up any misunderstandings. Unfortunately, in a leadership role, there's nothing we can do to avoid just having some people hate us even if they don't know us. Here are X ways we'll make enemies in our careers and how to minimize the impact on you and your family 1. Hiring. Unfortunately, we can't hire everyone. As we've discussed here, "hell hath no fury like a lover scorned." As your business grows, the pool of applicants who we don't hire grows with it - and that usually includes people in our personal communities. There will be people who don't like you simply because you don't give them a job they're not qualified for- or even just b/c you've never asked them - and they will be vocal about it. 2. Vendors. Same as #1. We can't choose every vendor. Many who aren't awarded the business will be, let's say, less than kind. Cognitive dissonance is powerful and, instead of understanding why they may not have won the business, it is much more common to turn us into the bad guys. 3. Staffing. Everyone is at a different point in their careers. That leads to different titles, responsibilities, and pay. You'll be in tough spots. Promotions, raises and terminations. All of them have fallout. We can't promote everyone. We can't pay everyone the same. We can't keep underperformers. And it is all our fault to everyone. It's easier to hate than to understand. 4. Competing. Most all of our competitors will hate us if we have any success. It's human nature and too easy to vilify "the other side." Tell the truth. Be nice. Some will still hate us. 5. Free Stuff! A bonus for those of us who work in an industry with desirable goods. Didn't get that person you barely know free tickets? Asshole. Didn't give a massive discount so I can buy little Johnny a new phone? Jerk. You'll be hated by many without even knowing it. So what can we do about it: 1. Communicate clearly with our families and loved ones. Its "unfair" these things impact our families, but they do. 2. Don't try to fix it. There isn't enough time in the day to "explain" it all away. Those who need the explanation, they're not worth the time anyways 3. Set guidelines and make them public. We don't get free tickets for friends and extended family. We don't hire friends, family or people in our close community. No exceptions. 4. Find people who have "done this before" to talk to about this hatred. It helps. It really does. 5. Appreciate the good ones along the way! The ones who love us for us, who don't have expectations of us and who give us the benefit of the doubt. Don't fall into the trap yourself. Let's give everyone the benefit they're doing their best and may be good. No matter what others say about em.