@HR Hooligan – I don’t think you can categorically rule out that a person can’t be likable as well as being respected. As I implied in the post, there is a difference between the attitude and the action. Being a pushover and being an anything goes sort of person (action) can be different than being likable (attitude). Maybe that flies that way in education but it doesn’t necessarily fly that way everywhere else.

Not to mention that I know a bunch of hard nosed jerks who aren’t respected and aren’t fair just as much as the likable kind. There is a balance.

On the other hand, the teachers I didn’t end up liking were the ones that most other students adored. These were the teachers that tried to be everyone’s friend. Usually outspoken and boisterous they were the class clowns themselves. Their “favorites” got away with murder but didn’t learn a thing. I learned things from these experiences. People will tend to think someone is nice and likable if they have an “anything goes” attitude. I have learned that people need to earn their role as being respected and fair. It’s all about earning trust and respect.