How important is it to be a likeable leader?

It is far more important to be a respected leader. Your Soldiers may "like" you if you are their buddy, but they will follow you if they respect you.

Is it important to be "liked" as a leader? No. More often that not your decisions will not be "liked" by those that have to carry them out. As 1SG (Join to see) pointed out, being a RESPECTED leader is far more important than being liked. Sure you see those leaders who are out getting drunk around those they lead and I'm all for team development and doing things to take interest in your troops but you can't always be the "cool NCO". I remember hearing once that to be a good leader you must love be ready to order the destruction of what you love. The meaning I drew from this is that as a leader, a good and successful leader you must be ready to take the harder right over the easy wrong. Of course we don't want our troops rolling their eyes every time they see a leader walking into the room but we also do not want them thinking they can skate by because you aim to be liked.

CW3 (Join to see) I really think it is a balance between being likeable or not likeable. There are situations and decisions that you have to make as a leader that will not be liked for whatever reason and there are those decisions that the masses will think you are the greatest thing since "Mom's Sliced Apple Pie". To be effective, you should not seek to obtain either side of the equation. You have to attain and maintain a balance. Being Likable as a leader in my opinion comes with your integrity, your competence, your compassion when needed, your empathy you display genuinely when its calls for, your intensity and inspiring attitude, your manners and courtesy to others through your leadership practices, and your character. All of these things will shape your personality and persona! Not everyone will like you and some will. It not your job to chose who will and who won't. It’s your job to lead from the front when it’s necessary and take a back seat when it’s necessary to allow future leaders room to grow. You can't be wrapped up with yourself trying to guess who likes you and who doesn't. You will lose focus if you try. Be the best you can be through those traits I mentioned above!