(Note that the article also mentions confusion with complimentary sense)
The complimentary sense is completely blocked by context here:
> The problem is ______.
Not totally. The problem is [that you're awesome] and people find you intimidating (or something).
I suppose it could be made up or embellished, but I don't think it's the most wildly implausible thing ever (unlike @woodman).
Well shoot, you keep producing plausible explanations: so now he might be so narcissistic that he thinks the reason he can't find capable subordinates is because people are intimidated by his awesomeness.