Influence 2 Part 4 Emily -

Influence, Chapter 2, Part 4: The Uncomfortable Truth About "Liking" (And Why It’s Not About Being Nice)

Emily argues that we rarely notice when we’re agreeing with someone because we like them, rather than because their logic is sound. That charismatic coworker? That charming salesperson? That influencer who feels like a friend? You’re not just being social—you’re being influenced. influence 2 part 4 emily

Her point: Liking isn’t a leadership tool—it’s a cognitive bias. And when you don’t name it, it runs the table. Influence, Chapter 2, Part 4: The Uncomfortable Truth

In Part 4, Emily shares a quiet story: a manager who kept promoting a well-liked underperformer because “everyone wanted him on the team.” Liking overrode competence. Sound familiar? That influencer who feels like a friend

It sounds warm, fuzzy, and harmless. But in Influence, Chapter 2, Part 4 , Emily pulls back the curtain on the Liking principle—and her take is sharper, darker, and more useful than the typical “just be friendly” advice.

We’ve all heard it: “People buy from people they like.”