Trish's Blog

The cost of being liked is higher than we admit. Most of us want to be liked, so we nod, smile, and stay quiet.

But being liked often costs far more than being right. Playing safe keeps you popular, but it also kills your influence.

Real leadership shows up when you risk disapproval, speak up, and say the thing no one wants to say.

If your fear of being disliked is deciding what you do or don’t say, you’re not keeping the peace. You’re trading integrity for comfort.

And this matters for Diversity of Thought. When everyone stays quiet to stay liked, we lose ideas, perspectives, and solutions. True innovation and real inclusion only happens when people speak their truth, even if it’s unpopular.