Page 181 - How To Answer Interview Questions (II)

Job Interview Question 100

Would you rather be liked or feared?

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.