“Likeability is overrated.” What do you understand by that statement? I have come to realize a lot of people use the statement and don’t know that it has a deeper meaning. Many have used this statement as an excuse to cultivate an attitude that smells more than a he-goat. Likeability is overrated applies to sycophancy and what we colloquially call ‘opthalmology’ in medicine. The former refers to empty hailing where people are praising you for ‘iwa palapala’ probably because you have money or power while the latter refers to a case where you are trying to suck up to people to get favors from people. Or where you’re doing things simply for the applause.
Totally unrelated but we call her the finest and most beautiful
My baby sister Khadijah
So when they say Likeability is overrated, it means you’re not doing what you’re doing because of sycophants or ophthalmology or applause. But not that you’re going out of your way to be a rotten and rude person. You are likely going to achieve things faster if you are genuinely liked. Whether in your personal or professional life. The person that is liked genuinely gets to dine with the elders and open doors others may never be able to approach.
Before you whip out that statement of likeability being overrated, ensure that you’re accompanying that statement with the right attitude. There are only four scenarios you can get away with being a nasty person especially in your career – If you are extremely good at your job and you’re almost indispensable (but it is only a matter of time as nobody is indispensable), if you have extremely powerful sponsors, if you are a powerful person or if you have bastard money.
But you don’t have any of these, iwa e tun wa da l’adugbo (you now have a nasty attitude), don’t be surprised if you become redundant or if retrogression happens to you instead of progression. It is not village people maidear. You’re your own enemy. Fix up and do better