After 26 Years of Coaching Executives, I’ve Found 1 Habit That Makes Leaders More Likable

Leadership likability directly influences deal-making, negotiation outcomes, and team cohesion—critical factors in middle-market credit and leveraged finance. After 26 years coaching executives, the identified habit offers actionable insight into enhancing interpersonal effectiveness, which can improve borrower relationships and internal collaboration. Understanding and applying such behavioral nuances helps credit professionals better assess management quality and predict operational stability, ultimately informing risk assessment and investment decisions in a competitive lending environment.