Why the most successful leaders care about being "likeable", not "liked"

We all want others to like us. We value what others think about us and want to feel accepted. Yet in a workplace, these feelings can lead us astray from achieving our goals. When a leader only cares about being "liked", they'll avoid tough conversations and decisions to spare others' feelings. Yet constructive criticism is necessary for employees to grow and meet their goals, and difficult decisions — which not everyone on the team likes — have to made in order for the company to progress and grow. Successful leaders know that the way they lead won't always make everyone like them. But they know they're making the right decisions for their team and the company. And they know they can still be "likeable" — friendly and caring — while not being "liked." Do you find you're worried about being "liked" at work? How have you tried to become more "likeable" than "liked"?