The Importance of Being Likable

A recent article in the Harvard Business Review reported that when people need help getting a job done, they’ll choose a congenial colleague over a more capable one.

Think about that: your colleagues may prefer your likability over your ability.

Consider projects you work on now – who do you want on your team? Someone that will help the project flow smoothly and be a pleasant to work with, even if they aren't the most skilled or able? Or a competent jerk who will get the job done, but possibly make it a rocky, unpleasant experience?

If you are like most people, you would select the "lovable fool" over the "competent jerk".

However, there is a cost to this predilection. People who like each other often have similar views, ways of thinking, and often experiences. Such a likable-filled environment makes it more difficult to generate new, fresh ideas. Put a competent jerk into the mix, however, and you are bound to come up with new perspectives and new ideas, if but only because they can be "difficult".

Which type of person do you identify with the most — the "lovable fool", or the "competent jerk"?