Women in leadership often get stuck in the likability vs. competence double bind—and it can stall career growth for women even when performance is strong. In this episode, organizational psychologist Dr. Alison Fragale shares the “Likeable Badass” approach to build leadership confidence, strengthen executive presence, and increase influence at work—without shrinking, over-explaining, or apologizing for being direct.If you’ve ever softened your message, over-explained, or held back from advocating for yourself because you didn’t want to be ...
Women in leadership often get stuck in the likability vs. competence double bind—and it can stall career growth for women even when performance is strong. In this episode, organizational psychologist Dr. Alison Fragale shares the “Likeable Badass” approach to build leadership confidence, strengthen executive presence, and increase influence at work—without shrinking, over-explaining, or apologizing for being direct.
If you’ve ever softened your message, over-explained, or held back from advocating for yourself because you didn’t want to be “that person”… this episode is for you. Alison breaks down why the likability-competence tradeoff shows up so often for women, and the practical shifts that help you build influence without contorting yourself into someone else’s comfort zone.
Takeaways
- Stop aiming to be liked. Aim to be respected and trusted—there’s a difference, and it changes your results.
- Status isn’t about ego. It’s how your value becomes visible (and rewarded).
- Warmth without strength gets you overlooked. Strength without warmth can trigger backlash. The goal is both.
- Self-advocacy doesn’t need to feel salesy—it needs to be clear, specific, and connected to outcomes.
- Use cleaner language. Less apologizing, fewer “justs,” and no pre-defending your point before you make it.
Links & Resources
- Dr. Alison Fragale
- Likeable Badass (book)
- Follow Alison on Instagram
- Loud & Lifted Podcast: https://www.loudandliftedpodcast.com/
- Sign up for L&L newsletter: https://loud-lifted.kit.com/profile/links
Guest Bio
Dr. Alison Fragale is an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, and bestselling author of Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve. Her academic research on status, power, negotiation, and influence have been published in her field’s top academic journals as well as national media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She is a sought-after keynote speaker who uses behavioral science to help individuals, especially women, excel. Prior to her academic career, Alison worked as a consultant for McKinsey and Company, Inc.
She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
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