Respect vs Likability (feat. Rene Guerrero)

Do you need to be liked to be an effective leader?In this episode of Leading Ain’t Easy, Ryan and Erny sit down with Rene Guerrero, Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Ontario, to talk through one of the most common tensions leaders face: the balance between being respected and being liked.Rene brings nearly 30 years of experience in engineering and public works leadership and shares what he has learned about credibility, trust, transparency, and tough decisions. Together, they explore how leaders can build real respect without becoming cold, rigid, or disconnected from their teams.The conversation covers:the difference between wanting to be liked and needing to be likedwhy respect is built through consistency and integrityhow transparency helps people understand hard decisionswhy authenticity matters when stepping into leadershipand how to avoid drifting into fear-based or approval-based leadershipThey also share personal stories about being the face of difficult decisions, navigating leadership transitions, and learning that it is okay if not everyone likes you.If you have ever struggled with trying to be a “good” leader without becoming a people pleaser, this episode will hit home.Leading Ain't Easy was created by Ryan Calkins and Erny Epley, and is hosted by Ryan and John Moore.Ryan is the founder of Reframe & Rise, where he works with veterans who transitioned successfully but still feel something's off; helping them find alignment, not just a better job title.John is a certified life and career coach with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate transitions, find purpose, and lead with intention — drawing on backgrounds in corporate leadership, counseling, and entrepreneurship.Erny runs Bus Pro Network, supporting school transportation leaders across California with training and development, and joins the show as an occasional guest.Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for clips, prompts, and behind-the-scenes updates. If this episode resonated, please leave a review as it helps more leaders find us.