Leaders - you don’t have to like everyone on your team, but you do have to lead them

No one says it out loud, but every leader knows it’s true. You won’t like everyone on your team equally.

Some people energise you, others drain you. Some you click with instantly, others frustrate you for reasons you can’t quite name.

So what do you do with that?

Do you pretend it’s not happening? Hide the fact that you have favourites? Or should you put more effort into those you naturally struggle with?

Great leadership isn’t about liking everyone equally.

It’s about ensuring that everyone feels equally valued.

That means getting curious about your own biases, noticing who you invest in and who you avoid, and questioning the stories you’ve built about certain people.

Maybe the person you find difficult has a work style that clashes with yours. Maybe they remind you of someone from your past. Maybe their strengths are quieter, less obvious, harder to appreciate.

None of this means you have to force a connection that isn’t there. But it does mean you have a choice.

You can lead through preference or you can lead through principle.

You can double down on your favourites or you can challenge yourself to see the strengths in those you instinctively overlook.

Because while you don’t have to like everyone, you do have to lead everyone.